Chelsea v Fulham LIVE: Result and reaction as Cole Palmer penalty enough for Blues to triumph

Chelsea made it three Premier League wins in a row for the first time since October 2022 as Cole Palmer’s penalty guided them to a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The winning goal came in stoppage time at the end of the first half, the top scorer for Mauricio Pochettino’s side notching his ninth goal of the season after Raheem Sterling was tripped in the box.

However, the move had been started by a moment of Palmer genius, spotting a gap and threading a superb ball through the middle that drew defender Issa Diop into a clumsy foul.

Marco Silva’s visitors never truly looked beaten until the final whistle sounded. Chelsea, though, defended doggedly in the final moments to breathe genuine momentum into their season.

Relive the game below:

Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League updates

• Chelsea beat Fulham 1-0 in a west London derby

• Cole Palmer’s penalty just before half-time is enough for a third straight Premier League win for the Blues

• REPORT: Cole Palmer saves Chelsea again but Mauricio Pochettino needs so much more

• FULL-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

• 84’ - POST! Gallagher’s shot with the outside of his foot hits the post (CHE 1-0 FUL)

• 45+3’ - GOAL! Palmer slots home a penalty on the stroke of half-time (CHE 1-0 FUL)

Chelsea FC 1 - 0 Fulham FC

Cole Palmer saves Chelsea again but Mauricio Pochettino needs so much more

15:04 , Luke Baker

A single moment to lift the game but also, perhaps going against some of the noise, keep Chelsea‘s run going.

This nervy 1-0 win over Fulham ensured Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed three league wins in a row for the first time as manager of the club. It was still badly-needed relief after the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough, and all the more crucial given they now face three games that could set the entire season. There’s the return in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Aston Villa and then another difficult Premier League game away to Liverpool. They needed this.

They also, very evidently, need Cole Palmer. In a first half where nobody could seem to play a pass that wasn’t flat and everyone looked unable to do anything that might hurt the opposition, the playmaker saw a fraction of space in the box and slipped through the most insightful ball. It is what Chelsea have been badly lacking, beyond this game.

Read Miguel Delaney’s full report from Stamford Bridge:

Cole Palmer saves Chelsea again but Mauricio Pochettino needs so much more

Raheem Sterling reacts to Chelsea’s win

15:02 , Luke Baker

Raheem Sterling chats to the TNT Sports crew about the victory and Cole Palmer’s influence

Men in green blazers overshadow Chelsea’s west London derby with film promotion

14:35 , Luke Baker

Chelsea’s match against Fulham might have been billed as a west London derby, but the first half was largely dominated by a lack of quality on the pitch and a bizarre performance from the sidelines.

Mauricio Pochettino had already mentioned the film Argylle, which is being produced by one of Blues owner Todd Boehly’s companies, in his pre-match press conference but few could have predicted what would take place behind the Chelsea manager on the touchline.

Argylle is due to be released in February 2024 and has Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa among an impressive cast list for the spy thriller.

At seemingly random intervals, a group of men in dark green velvet jackets stood up and on one occasion held up books, at another seemed to be brushing their teeth, and at a further time were pointing at imaginary wristwatches.

Men in green blazers overshadow Chelsea’s west London derby with film promotion

FULL-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:30 , Luke Baker

And that’s it! Chelsea hang on to win 1-0.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:28 , Luke Baker

90+5 mins: It’s a good ball in and Fulham attackers take a couple of swipes at it but so many blue shirts are in there throwing themselves in front of the ball! Fernandez with a key block.

Chelsea eventually thump clear.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:27 , Luke Baker

90+4 mins: A long throw from Fulham into the box to try and snatch an equaliser but it’s scrambled clear. The Cottagers then win a free-kick out on the right and will have a last chance to pump it into the box.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:26 , Luke Baker

90 mins: Into five minutes of injury time and Chelsea hanging on to this lead. Gallagher sees a shot blocked trying to finish it off.

A couple of final subs for Chelsea as Gilchrist and Chukwuemeka on for Palmer and Gusto.

POST! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:19 , Luke Baker

84 mins: So close for Chelsea! Gallagher is inches away from finishing the game as a contest. He strikes the ball with the outside of his boot but it thuds against the foot of the post

Just before that, Fulham make two subs as Rodrigo Muniz and Sasa Lukic come on for Andreas Pereira and Joao Palhinha

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:12 , Luke Baker

79 mins: A dangerous-looking break for Fulham, so Thiago Silva hacks down Jimenez on halfway. He gets a yellow card but he knew exactly what he was doing.

Palmer then also yellow-carded as he kicks the ball away to stop the quick free-kick.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:10 , Luke Baker

76 mins: A clattering foul about 25-30 yards out committed by Chelsea and Disasi kicks the ball away in the aftermath, getting a yellow card for his troubles. Pereira’s free-kick flies well over though.

But here’s some great news for Chelsea! Ben Chilwell makes his injury return, coming on for the final 15 minutes in place of Raheem Sterling. He immediately takes the captain’s armband. A job for him to do to help see out this win.

SAVE! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:07 , Luke Baker

74 mins: Fulham now putting the pressure on! Pereira takes on his man and advances into the box from the left. His pull-back goes behind a slipping Palmer and Jimenez gets a shot at goal but Petrovic dives to his right to push it away with a strong hand.

Shortly after, Jimenez gets another shot away but Petrovic is solid at his near post.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:05 , Luke Baker

72 mins: Things starting to get frantic now. Chelsea put pressure on Fulham but blocks are flying in and eventually Gallagher fires well over the bar.

A Sterling cross then blocked out for a corner, which is cleared

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

14:00 , Luke Baker

66 mins: Now Chelsea respond with a sub of their own. Armando Broja - still getting full fitness back from injury - is off with Noni Madueke coming on

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:57 , Luke Baker

64 mins: A double change for Fulham as Timothy Castagne and Bobby DeCordova-Reid are on for Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson. Can the fresh legs get them back in this match?

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:53 , Luke Baker

59 mins: Enzo Fernandez gets a yellow card as he almost scissor tackles Cairney.

Then a great block by Tete! Chelsea swarm forward, with the crowd getting behind them. The ball is slid in to Sterling’s feet eight yards out and he looks set to score but Tete slides in to block the ball away. Superb defending.

Chelsea then win a corner but Sterling’s cross is claimed by Leno after a short-corner routine.

CHANCE! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:47 , Luke Baker

53 mins: This should be 2-0 to Chelsea. Good patience by Broja on the left, lays it back and the cross is whipped in where Sterling is unmarked on the six-yard box line! He flicks the header but Leno manages to parry it away.

Sterling may have been offside, it certainly would have been interesting to see if it had stood.

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:43 , Luke Baker

49 mins: Fulham win a free-kick on the left and whip it in to try and cause havoc in the box but it’s scrambled away. Chelsea then counter – Fernandez rides one challenge but is crudely hacked down by Wilson on the halfway line to stop the break in its tracks. Wilson yellow-carded for his trouble, taking one for the team.

Chelsea then work the ball into the box via Palmer and Broja tries to work half a yard to shoot but he’s crowded out.

KICK-OFF! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:39 , Luke Baker

Back underway in west London. That penalty just before the break was a real bonus for Chelsea - can they turn it into a third straight Premier League win?

HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:31 , Luke Baker

Here’s that Cole Palmer penalty that is the difference between the teams so far

HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

13:23 , Luke Baker

It looked like heading to the break at 0-0 after a fairly chance-free half but a late penalty from Cole Palmer for his ninth Premier League goal of the season has put Chelsea ahead!

Can they turn that into three points now?

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Palmer pen 45+3’)

13:20 , Luke Baker

Cole Palmer has been money from the penalty spot this season and the youngster does it again! Sends Bernd Leno the wrong way and he thumps the ball into the right corner.

Nice penalty and Chelsea lead!

PENALTY! Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:19 , Luke Baker

45+2 mins: Just seconds remaining in the first half and Chelsea have a penalty! Sterling cuts in and his chop-back fools Diop who falls, sticks a leg out and brings Sterling down.

A clear penalty and Chelsea have the chance to lead at the break, with Cole Palmer stepping up.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:16 , Luke Baker

44 mins: A bit better from that corner by Fulham, aiming for Tosin, and although it’s half-cleared, Cairney can get a shot away which deflects wide for another corner.

That one comes to nothing though. Injury-time in the first half beckoning now and it’s been a 45 minutes lacking real quality.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:14 , Luke Baker

41 mins: Fulham earn another corner but, as is emblematic of this game, it’s a pretty poor set-piece. Pereira’s cross is far too low and fails to get past the first man, allowing it to be hacked away.

Chelsea try to break at speed but the Fulham defence is disciplined and Robinson can tidy up.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:11 , Luke Baker

39 mins: Oooh, that’s a nasty one from Malo Gusto. He loses control of the ball in the attacking third and lunges to try and get it back.

It’s studs up, over the top of the ball and he crunches the top of Willian’s foot who goes down in pain. Gusto gets a yellow card but that wasn’t a million miles away form being even more severe a punishment. VAR complete their check and are happy with a yellow.

Willian back to his feet thankfully. He looked in a lot of pain initially.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:08 , Luke Baker

37 mins: Fulham win a corner through ex-Chelsea man Willian - they’re getting some joy down that left-hand side. A short corner is eventually worked to Cairney on the edge of the box but his shot is high, wide and not so handsome.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:06 , Luke Baker

34 mins: Chelsea press again as Gallagher gets to the by-line but his cross is easily plucked out of the air by Leno. The Blues are getting in good positions but lacking that clinical edge in the final third at the minute

SAVE! Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

13:00 , Luke Baker

28 mins: Fulham’s best chance by a long chalk and a good save by Petrovic to keep it 0-0! The Cottagers find space down the left and Robinson’s low cross is fizzed across the box to Wilson at the back post. He hits it first time and gets the shot on target but Petrovic springs across to push it away.

A save you’d expect him to make but still had to be made.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:58 , Luke Baker

25 mins: Chelsea win a corner as a cross is blocked but, again, they don’t do enough from the set-piece and it’s easily cleared by Fulham.

Down the other end, Fulham finally get a shot away as they pinch the ball back and Andreas Pereira takes a pop at goal from 25 yards. But it’s a simple save for Petrovic down to his right.

CHANCE! Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:53 , Luke Baker

20 mins: The best chance for Chelsea so far. They work the ball down the left as Sterling finds Fernandez. He stands up a cross and Broja nips in front of his marker to get a head on the ball but it flies wide.

Good movement by Broja and nice cross, Chelsea just couldn’t find the finish.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:47 , Luke Baker

15 mins: The final ball not quite happening for Chelsea at the moment. Broja tries to find Sterling but it’s cut out. Neat link-up between Gallagher and Palmer on the edge of the box gives the former half a yard but his shot is well over the bar.

Fulham haven’t been able to get their foot on the ball at all.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:43 , Luke Baker

11 mins: Palmer and Broja link up well down the right but Tosin defends well initially. The ball back into the box finds Fernandez who takes a shot at goal but it’s blocked!

This has been all Chelsea so far.

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:38 , Luke Baker

5 mins: Chelsea definitely on top here with Sterling making inroads down the left. He charges into the area and his cutback is into a lovely area but Fulham just get there first to scramble clear

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:35 , Luke Baker

3 mins: Tete clatters into Sterling out on the left to give Chelsea a free-kick in an inviting position. But the cross isn’t great and the Cottagers easily clear

KICK-OFF! Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

12:33 , Luke Baker

Underway at Stamford Bridge. Decent start by Chelsea who maintain possession early on and probe for a potential breakthrough.

Chelsea v Fulham

12:30 , Luke Baker

Not long until kick-off now at Stamford Bridge.

Inside Chelsea’s experiment and the problem holding Mauricio Pochettino back

12:18 , Luke Baker

If this January’s market has seemed quiet, it’s in part because there have been very active discussions behind the scenes at the biggest spenders of the last three windows.

Chelsea are trying to figure out how they can still meet the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (P&S) requirements and bolster the squad.

They want a major striker, above all Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. The club owners’ recent purchase of 1,000 shares for £140m isn’t viewed as an indication of budget, though.

Mauricio Pochettino has publicly said he has been told they don’t need to sell to buy. This Chelsea hierarchy has generally attempted different methods, constantly looking at angles others haven’t thought of yet.

Some in football would go further, though. One description is that Chelsea are undertaking a huge experiment never before seen in football.

Read Miguel Delaney’s full analysis of the Chelsea situation:

Inside Chelsea’s experiment and the problem holding Pochettino back

When is Chelsea vs Fulham and how can I watch it?

12:12 , Luke Baker

When is Chelsea vs Fulham?

Chelsea vs Fulham is due to kick off at 12.30pm GMT on Saturday 13 January at Stamford Bridge.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 11am. Subscribers can stream the game via discovery+.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Is Chelsea v Fulham on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Premier League fixture

12:07 , Luke Baker

Chelsea welcome near neighbours Fulham to Stamford Bridge as the two London clubs return to Premier League action.

Fulham could move within a point of their hosts and the top half of the table with victory.

Both sides were beaten in midweek Carabao Cup fixtures, with Chelsea slipping up at Middlesbrough and Fulham beaten by Liverpool as each conceded a one-goal first-leg deficit.

The pair did finish 2023 with league wins, though: Chelsea survived a late Luton rally at Kenilworth Road and Marco Silva’s secured an impressive 2-1 win over Arsenal.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Is Chelsea v Fulham on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch

Chelsea v Fulham team news

12:05 , Luke Baker

Here are the two line-up this lunchtime.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Broja, Palmer

Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez

Chelsea vs Fulham

11:30

Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…