Boxing Day Chelsea falls at Stamford Bridge

There was a sensation at Stamford Bridge this Boxing Day. Chelsea, second in the league, hosted Fulham, who had enjoyed a strong first half of the season.

From the outset, the Cottagers showed their determination, particularly through the energetic play of Alex Iwobi on the left flank. Despite Fulham’s resistance, the Blues took the lead thanks to Cole Palmer. Found in the center, the attacking midfielder evaded his markers and placed a precise shot into Bernd Leno’s bottom corner (1-0, 16th minute). This goal brought some calm to Enzo Maresca’s men.

Photos : FC Chelsea/FC Fulham/DR

Dominance without reward

Cole Palmer continued to dazzle near the opposition’s box, outmaneuvering Fulham players with elegant dribbles. However, Chelsea failed to extend their lead. Fulham’s counter-attacks, led by Alex Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, and Adama Traoré, consistently threatened the Blues’ defense. Eventually, the inevitable happened. In the 82nd minute, Alex Iwobi broke down the flank, outpaced Neto, and crossed to the far post. Timothy Castagne headed the ball back across goal for Harry Wilson to score from close range (1-1).

A catastrophic end to the match

The worst was yet to come for Chelsea. In stoppage time, Sasa Lukic led a fatal counter-attack and set up Rodrigo Muniz at the penalty spot. The striker made no mistake, beating Robert Sanchez (1-2, 90+5th minute). This defeat leaves Chelsea four points behind Liverpool, who have two games in hand. It’s often said that the Premier League can’t be won on Boxing Day, but it can be lost. This might be what happened to Chelsea on Thursday.

Defeat with serious consequences

This home defeat is a significant blow for Chelsea, whose title hopes are slipping further away. The Blues will need to quickly regroup to stay in the race at the top of the Premier League. Fulham, on the other hand, continues to impress and surprise this season.