Chelsea failed to make up ground on Premier League leaders Liverpool after a 2-1 loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.
Premier League
Result: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Date: 26 December 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Coach Enzo Maresca made one change from Chelsea's draw with Everton over the weekend, as Marc Cucurella came back in the side in place of Axel Disasi, who dropped to the bench.The Blues got the opening goal on 16 minutes as Cole Palmer collected a pass from Levi Colwell before shrugging off two challenges and calmly slotting past Bernd Leno.
The visiting side, meanwhile, struggled to carve out chances for Raul Jimenez in the final third despite getting into good positions out wide with Adama Traore and Antonee Robinson.
The hosts should have doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break when Enzo Fernandez's free-kick found Marc Cucurella, who failed to steer his header past Leno from six yards out before Fulham managed to clear.
Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net five minutes into the second half when Colwill headed home Fernandez's free-kick, but the celebrations were cut short due to the defender being flagged offside.
As the game began to open up, Fulham squandered a big chance to equalise after the hour mark when Robison got in behind the Blues defence, but thee full-back took a heavy touch and his shot was closed down by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The visitors got their reward in the 82nd minute when substitute Harry Wilson got on the end of Timothy Castagne's knockdown to head in off the upright after some good work by Alex Iwobi in the build up.
Fulham went on to bag the winning goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time when Rodrigo Muniz calmly slotted into the far corner to seal maximum points.
