Chelsea suffers significant setbacks after victory over Fulham

Chelsea kept up their promising start to the 2025/26 campaign with a 2-0 win against Fulham at Stamford Bridge, marking their second straight Premier League victory. Yet, the triumph was clouded by a worrying injury to the young striker Liam Delap.

The London derby against Fulham marked the first time Liam Delap started alongside new signing Joao Pedro. This was a significant moment for the 21-year-old forward, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town during the recent summer transfer window for a fee of £30 million.

However, that hope lasted less than a half. Delap had only touched the ball three times before feeling hamstring pain and had to request a substitution. He left the pitch in the 14th minute, replaced by young talent Tyrique George. Instead of sitting on the bench, the striker headed straight to the tunnel, a detail that worried fans about the severity of the injury.

This news is disappointing for coach Enzo Maresca, as Delap was expected to add more options to Chelsea's attack. Prior to this, he had made 8 appearances for The Blues since joining, scoring once at the FIFA Club World Cup in July.

Despite the early loss of a player, Chelsea maintained control of the game. In the 43rd minute, Joao Pedro scored with a precise header, opening the scoring and marking his first goal for the club.

In the second half, The Blues kept up the pressure. At the 52nd minute, Enzo Fernandez successfully converted a penalty, doubling the lead and sealing the match with a 2-0 victory.

Fulham made some efforts but failed to make an impact. The most unfortunate moment was when Josh King scored against Chelsea in the first half, but VAR ruled that Rodrigo Muniz had fouled Trevoh Chalobah beforehand.

After a less impressive start in the first three rounds of the 2025/26 Premier League, Chelsea finally regained their winning form. The victory over Fulham marked their second consecutive triumph, temporarily placing Chelsea at the top of the 2025/26 Premier League standings and extending their momentum following their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 title.

The 2-0 win against Fulham boosted Chelsea’s morale and confirmed that Enzo Maresca’s squad could be a contender for the Premier League title this season. However, the biggest question after the match was not about the three points but the medical results for Liam Delap. If the injury is serious, Chelsea will lose a potential key player for the remainder of the season.

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