Kai Havertz scored twice to boost Chelsea’s grip on a Champions League place and send Fulham closer to Premier League relegation.
The German, one of five changes in between the Blues’ Champions League semi-final legs against Real Madrid, latched on to Mason Mount’s through ball to give them an early lead.
He doubled their advantage when he finished after a one-two with Timo Werner.
In between those efforts he also had a goal correctly ruled out for offside.
Fulham had plenty of chances in the first half with Antonee Robinson and Ola Aina forcing good saves from Edouard Mendy.
But they created nothing of note after the break and now sit nine points off safety with four games to go.
Chelsea, who just need a goalless home draw against Real on Wednesday to reach the Champions League final, have a six-point cushion over West Ham in the top four.
Havertz’s finest hour?
Havertz has struggled to live up to high expectations following his £71m move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but in 90 minutes against Fulham he managed to double his Premier League goal tally.
A clinical performance – he scored with both his shots – could put him in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking for the Real game on Wednesday.
His first came at the end of a nice team move which started with goalkeeper Mendy, who has now kept 16 clean sheets in 28 Premier League games. He rolled the ball to Thiago Silva, who sprayed a long ball forward. Mount controlled it well and fed Havertz who slotted home.
He then had a goal ruled out for a clear offside from another Mount pass.
His second came when he controlled Ben Chilwell’s pass and beat two defenders before finding Werner. He continued his run to ghost in behind the defence and received Werner’s return pass before finishing.
The hard-working, unselfish Werner is another big-money summer signing who seems to have underachieved – yet he is the first player to reach double figures in goals and assists – 11 and 10 respectively – in his first Chelsea season since Eden Hazard in 2012-13.
Only four other Premier League players have achieved over 10 goals and assists in all competitions this season.
That Havertz goal was Chelsea’s only shot in the second half until a late flurry in injury time as they were able to just cruise to victory before the biggest game of their season.
More to follow.
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Chelsea
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
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Squad number4Player nameChristensen
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
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Squad number15Player nameZouma
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Squad number24Player nameJames
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Squad number23Player nameGilmour
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Squad number19Player nameMount
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Squad number21Player nameChilwell
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Squad number22Player nameZiyech
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Squad number11Player nameWerner
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
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Squad number3Player nameAlonso
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Squad number7Player nameKanté
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Squad number9Player nameAbraham
Fulham
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Squad number1Player nameAreola
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Squad number34Player nameAina
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Squad number5Player nameAndersen
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Squad number16Player nameTosin
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Squad number33Player nameRobinson
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Squad number29Player nameZambo Anguissa
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Squad number18Player nameLemina
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Squad number17Player nameCavaleiro
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number19Player nameLookman
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Squad number27Player nameMaja
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Squad number9Player nameMitrovic
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Squad number25Player nameOnomah
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Squad number48Player nameCarvalho
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Mendy
- 4Christensen
- 6Thiago Silva
- 15ZoumaBooked at 41mins
- 24James
- 23Gilmour
- 19MountSubstituted forAbrahamat 76′minutes
- 21ChilwellSubstituted forAlonsoat 81′minutes
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forKantéat 66′minutes
- 11Werner
- 29Havertz
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 3Alonso
- 5Jorginho
- 7Kanté
- 9Abraham
- 10Pulisic
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 28Azpilicueta
- 55Anjorin
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Areola
- 34AinaBooked at 90mins
- 5Andersen
- 16Tosin
- 33Robinson
- 29Zambo Anguissa
- 18LeminaSubstituted forCarvalhoat 78′minutes
- 17CavaleiroSubstituted forOnomahat 78′minutes
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 19Lookman
- 27MajaSubstituted forMitrovicat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Tete
- 3Hector
- 4Odoi
- 9Mitrovic
- 12Rodák
- 13Ream
- 23Bryan
- 25Onomah
- 48Carvalho
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 2, Fulham 0.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Fulham 0.
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Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.
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Attempt missed. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Billy Gilmour following a set piece situation.
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Attempt blocked. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Ola Aina (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ola Aina (Fulham).
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Timo Werner (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Tammy Abraham (Chelsea).
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Foul by Thiago Silva (Chelsea).
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Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Andreas Christensen (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ademola Lookman (Fulham).
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Attempt missed. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by André-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
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Offside, Fulham. Tosin Adarabioyo tries a through ball, but Ola Aina is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ademola Lookman with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Tammy Abraham.
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Foul by Andreas Christensen (Chelsea).
