Chelsea fail to take revenge on Fulham as Enzo Fernandez makes debut

Chelsea have been held to a goalless draw with Fulham in a Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.

The residence aspect have been the more advantageous group, however Fulham have been comfy in innocence for many of the contest and a draw was a honest outcome. Enzo Fernandez made his debut for the hosts after signing for 121 million euros from Benfica.

Chelsea misplaced additional ground on the Champions League spots after being held by Fulham. A quiet first half observed one good alternative for both part as Andreas Pereira was denied by Kepa at the same time Havertz struck the submit suitable on half-time. As for the second interval, Mitrovic virtually scored from midfield for the travelers earlier than Chelsea picked up within the final 20 minutes. supply Fofana had the greatest opportunity to win it within the closing phases, however Tim Ream cleared off the road and the factors have been shared.

Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut after starting to be essentially the most pricey participant in British soccer historical past with a £107 million transfer from Benfica on switch deadline day. Mykhailo Mudryk was additionally given his Stamford Bridge bow, whilst Noni Madueke and David Datro Fofana got here off the bench for his or her Premier Bond debuts.

Chelsea’s file funding of over £300 million within the January window took the whole spend on new gamers of their first season underneath new possession to over half a billion. Co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have been in attendance, however won’t have been impressed as yet another opportunity to shut on the major 4 slipped by.

Graham Potter’s males sit ninth within the desk, nonetheless 9 factors adrift of the Champions Bond locations. Fulham had secured a primary victory within the west London derby since 2006 when the groups met simply three weeks in the past. Marco Silva’s males sit two factors and three locations above their nearby rivals within the desk of their first season again within the major flight.

February 3, 2023

Fulham have been searching for a primary ever league double over Chelsea and got here near to attaining it as Andreas Pereira compelled Kepa Arrizabalaga right into a flying save low to his suitable. For the big sums spent by Chelsea’s new proprietors, their lack of a medical goalscorer was uncovered over again. Kai Havertz had a hat-trick of enormous percentages to interrupt the impasse earlier than half-time.

The German worldwide didn’t get sufficient contact on Thiago Silva’s good move to divert the ball past Bernd Leno. Havertz then couldn’t stretch to show Mason soar’s risky cross on track. still his greatest opening got here when he hit the submit with a lob over Leno from Hakim Ziyech’s defence-splitting move.

Ziyech would have been a Paris Christian-Germain participant this week had Chelsea not submitted the mistaken paperwork within the minutes earlier than Tuesday’s switch deadline. The Moroccan is simply one in every of a wealth of extensive choices now accessible to Potter and he wasted no time in hooking Mudryk even with his price ticket after a disappointing first 45 minutes. The Ukrainian joined from Shakhtar Donetsk final month for a price that might endure to 100 million euros. Madueke was launched in his place and Potter additionally threw on Raheem unadulterated from the bench on the hour mark within the seek for a winner.

Fernandez was inches away from the appropriate debut because the Argentine Globe Cup winner flashed a shot extensive from distance 20 minutes from time. Connor Gallagher got here even nearer as he hit the side-netting from the sting of the field. still the greatest opportunity fell to Fofana because the Ivorian rounded the stranded Leno, however didn’t beat the masking Tim Ream on the road.