West London remains a contentious front in the English capital tonight after an entertaining and potentially eye-opening 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and visiting over-achievers Fulham. Marco Silva’s men did exceptionally well once again during a surprising 2022-23 Premier League campaign that sees the Cottagers in the hunt for Europe, with Blues supporters undoubtedly heading home on a night where many will have hoped continued spending in the January market was unable to yield a desired result at home.
The points are shared in west London 🤝#CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/dqh6gV66vc
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 3, 2023
The opening half hour-plus at the Bridge proved an expected back-and-forth affair while also offering continued evidence that Fulham is a force to be reckoned with in the league this season, as the Cottagers stood toe-to-toe with the Blues, with Potters troops needing over 20-minutes before they really got going in front of home support on the back of how organized Silva’s men have been.
Each side crafted just the one good chance before the latter stages of the opening 45-minutes, though, with Andreas Pereira testing Kepa Arrizabalaga from range in the 25th minute before Kai Havertz blazed over from close range after Tim Ream did just enough to alter the path of Mason Mount’s cross to put the German off seven minutes later.
Chelsea nearly found the opener just seconds before the end of normal time when Havertz was put through on goal after Hakim Ziyech played a ball over the top that was misjudged by Issa Diop, only for the former Bayer Leverkusen man’s lofted effort over the head of Leno to bounce off the near post before Tim Ream cleared Fulham’s lines.
The Blues continued in the second half in a similar fashion to the opening 45-minutes; plenty of the ball, but struggled to register any shots on frame despite a near wonder strike from full debutant Enzo Fernández whose curving bullet just rashed over the bar at the far post. Chelsea’s depth was on display as well, with Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, and David Datro Fofana all being brought on to shake things up.
And it was the Ivorian center-forward who gave the Blues another bite at the apple and a chance to take the lead in the 80th minute after being put through on goal, rounding a hapless Leno who was stranded in no man’s land and then dancing around Issa Diop before dispatching his effort at an empty goal before the aforementioned Ream cleared off the line to deny a potential debut match-winner.
FT: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham.
Five new signings played but still the same disappointing result.
There’s big pressure on these home matches if Chelsea want to finish in the top four.
Fulham stay in 7th place, Chelsea above Liverpool in 9th but two more played #CFC #CHEFUL
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 3, 2023
Chelsea will no doubt feel hard done by the result at home on the back of continued rampant spending in the transfer market in January, and though they can come away with positive context surrounding Fernández, Fofana, and Madueke, the Premier League giants will have to start churning out results at a rapid and consistent rate if the club are to avoid looking sheepish as Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are to get the new regime truly off the ground.
This result sees Fulham climb within four points of Spurs and in sole possession of 6th place in the table, while the Blues temporarily climb up to 9th and a point ahead of Liverpool who still has yet to play at the weekend.
📰 Table Of Contents
Chelsea Player Ratings
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7
- RB: Reece James – 6.5
- CB: Thiago Silva – 7
- CB: Benoît Badiashile – 7.5
- LB: Marc Cucurella – 7
- CM: Enzo Fernández – 8
- CM: Conor Gallagher – 7
- CAM: Mason Mount – 6.5
- RW: Hakim Ziyech – 6.5
- LW: Mykhailo Mudryk – 6
- CF: Kai Havertz – 6
- Sub: Noni Madueke – 7
- Sub: César Azpilicueta – 6
- Sub: Raheem Sterling – 6
- Sub: David Datro Fofana – 6
- Sub: Ben Chilwell – 6
Fulham Player Ratings
- GK: Bernd Leno – 6.5
- RB: Kenny Tete – 8
- CB: Issa Diop – 7
- CB: Tim Ream – 7.5
- LB: Antonee Robinson – 7
- CM: Harrison Reed – 7
- CM: João Palhinha – 7.5
- CAM: Andreas Pereira – 6.5
- RW: Boddy De Cordova-Reid – 7
- LW: Willian – 7.5
- CF: Aleksandar Mitrović – 6
- Sub: Harry Wilson – 6.5
- Sub: Manor Solomon – 6.5
- Sub: Carlos Vinícius – N/A
- Sub: Tom Cairney – N/A
- Sub: Layvin Kurzawa – N/A
Key Performers
Take-ons completed in the opening 30 minutes at Stamford Bridge:
◉ 3 – Willian
◉ 2 – Bobby De Cordova-Reid
◎ 0 – Chelsea#CHEFUL— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 3, 2023
Enzo Fernández first half stats against Fulham:
Tackles: 5
Tackle success %: 80%
Interceptions: 0
Clearances: 1
Recoveries: 7
Duels won: 7/7
Accurate long balls: 4Solid💪so far. #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/w5PE0cTsNZ
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) February 3, 2023
Enzo Fernández made more tackles (3) and won more duels (4) in the opening 15 minutes than any other player on the pitch.
Putting himself about. 😤
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 3, 2023
Mykhailo Mudryk’s full Premier League debut by numbers:
45 minutes
0 shots
0 fouls won
0 chances created
0 take-ons completed
0 passes into opp. boxReplaced at half-time… pic.twitter.com/97I5YG25zW
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 3, 2023
João Palhinha 🆚 Chelsea:
🔘 11 Ball Recoveries
🔘 7 Duels Won
🔘 4 Tackles
🔘 4 Interceptions
🔘 3 Shots
🔘 2 Chances Created
🔘 2 Clearances
🔘 1 Foul Conceded
🔘 1 Yellow CardA ball winning machine! 🤖#CHEFUL | #FFC | #FulhamFC | #PL pic.twitter.com/3m93bn8fju
— Stats Per 90 (@StatsPer90) February 3, 2023
No player on the pitch during #CHEFUL made or won more tackles than Enzo Fernandez [6/8].
[via @StatmanDave]
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) February 3, 2023
Expert Takes & Social Media
Enzo Fernández cost more than the entire Fulham starting XI combined. 🤑
It’s an instant debut for the Premier League’s record signing.#CHEFUL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 3, 2023
Chris Sutton thinks it will go Chelsea’s way tonight.
What’s your prediction?
Let us know using #BBCFootball 💬#CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/yUdYiHUjiM
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 3, 2023
Debut for Fernandez,
First start for Mudryk,
James plays for the first time in 2023,
Madueke could debut from the bench,
Sterling and Chilwell make the squad after injury. #CFC #CHEFUL— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 3, 2023
Ive defended him, and defended him, time and time again. Mason mount has been garbage the last 2 months. Get him off the pitch and get Chukwuemeka on. Get havertz off too whilst youre at it. #CheFul #masonmount #CFC
— Owen S (@CFCOwenS) February 3, 2023
Thiago Silva is 38 years old and still dropping dimes. 🤩
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/x0SpHtZWvh
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2023
I’ve raved about him all season and feel like it’s catching on now, but there has been no better signing this season than João Palhinha.#CHEFUL #FFC
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) February 3, 2023
Another boring game! £300m spent on players and not a shot on target 😆 #CheFul
— Nelli (@nells1886) February 3, 2023
Mitrovic was VERY close to scoring from midfield.
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/Awww0Chums
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2023
Willian getting a standing ovation on his first return to Stamford Bridge as an opposing player. Class from the home support.
They also do the Willian chant. #CFC #CHEFUL
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 3, 2023
Enzo Fernandez almost scored a worldie to mark his Chelsea debut!
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/bJJSsiwttM
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2023
The sheer weight of #Chelsea‘s roster is going to win them a lot of games, even taking into account the distractions. Too many good players (at this point) for them to be poor. #CHEFUL
— Toby Cunningham (@sircryqtootips) February 3, 2023
TIM REAM! 🇺🇸
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/kxoNL0d4JT
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2023
#CHEFUL Kenny Tete highlight. pic.twitter.com/h7yleyVR4e
— CHIEF JUSTICE 🎤 (@ChidubemNJ) February 3, 2023
Fulham deserved their point tonight. They’re so well organised and Palhinha was excellent. Chelsea will be disappointed they couldn’t create more but it is going to take time for all of these new parts to gel #CHEFUL
— Alex Howell (@iamAlexHowell) February 3, 2023
