Fulham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight after Joao Felix red card
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea: Joao Felix sent off on Chelsea debut as Blues come unstuck at Craven Cottage
Graham Potter was left with more questions than answers as his Chelsea side slumped to another defeat in the Premier League when they travelled to Craven Cottage on Thursaday evening. With just one win in nine matches the Blues welcomed a trip to Fulham who haven’t beaten them in the league since 2006, but things didn’t turn out the way they’d planned.
The home side were positive and controlled in possession, often pushing high up the pitch out of it and from the off it looked like Chelsea were in for a fight. Willian, a former blue who spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, opened the scoring in the first half. He brought down a cross into the box and after cutting inside saw his deflected effort bobble into the far bottom corner.
Chelsea’s new signing Joao Felix threatened throughout and the momentum almost turned when Kalidou Koulibaly equalised after half-time. Felix had a rush of blood though and dove into a silly challenge earning himself a straight red card which sealed Chelsea’s fate.
At 1-1 there was still work to do for the home side but Andreas Pereira stepped up and lifting a pinpoint cross onto the head of Carlos Vinicius to secure all three points for the Cottagers.
Relive all the action as Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage:
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
6 mins: Fulham win the first corner of the game after a forward run from Antonee Robinson who sees his cross into the box nodded behind.
The win a second attempt at the set piece after Andreas Pereira’s delivery is headed behind by one of Chelsea’s defenders. The second corner is sent out for a throw which Fulham take quickly.
Robinson is played to the byline and manages to cut a pass back to Carlos Vinicius who controls the ball and fizzes a shot wide of the back post on the turn.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: Chance! Joao Felix’s debut for Chelsea almost gets off to the perfect start as he makes a run down the right wing and is given the ball but Cesar Azpilicueta’s pass down the line.
Felix darts inside of Tim ream before sliding a pass to Kai Havertz whose first time shot is blocked. The ball rebounds over to Lewis Hall who also lets fly with a shot but Bernd Leno is well positioned to keep it out!
Kick off: Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
The rain is coming down over Craven Cottage as Fulham get the ball rolling for this Premier League encounter. They work the ball over to the left side of the pitch where Willian keeps it in play and nods the ball into the box.
He’s got a couple of teammates making runs but the ball bounces safely through to Kepa Arrizabalaga who scoops it into his arms.
Fulham vs Chelsea
Here come the teams.
Fulham will put themselves in a fantastic position to challenge for European football if they defeat Chelsea at Craven Cottage tonight. They will jump above Liverpool in the table and will be just four points off the top four.
Chelsea need to win. There’s a lot of pressure building on Graham Potter to get a positive result. A string of wins will put the Blues back in the hunt for the Champions League places and Potter will want that run to start as soon as possible.
Fulham vs Chelsea
What kind of impact will Joao Felix have on Chelsea? Can he help lift them back into the top four race?
Can Chelsea spark a revival?
Chelsea are winless in all seven Premier League fixtures this season against teams above them in the table with three draws and four defeats.
But, the Blues have won nine of their last 11 away London derbies in the Premier League.
Can Fulham win this London derby?
Fulham are looking to win consecutive Premier League London derbies for the first time since April 2013, when they won three in a row.
Marco Silva’s side have scored in 16 different Premier League matches this campaign, a joint-league high alongside Arsenal, Manchester City and Spurs.
Lacking the clinical edge
Graham Potter’s side have scored just five goals in their last eight league matches, failing to score in half of those. Will the inclusion of new signing Joao Felix give Chelsea their clinical edge back in front of goal?
A terrible run of form
Chelsea could go winless in six successive away games in all competitions for the first time since September to November 2015 under Jose Mourinho, who was sacked the following month.
Can Graham Potter avoid the same fate?
Fulham in fine form
Fulham are aiming to win four consecutive top-flight games for the first time since 1966, when they had a run of five.
They have taken nine points from their last four league matches - only three Premier League sides have earned more in that period. Can they shock Chelsea tonight?
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