Live Commentary: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea - as it happened

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Fulham and Chelsea.

The Cottagers have opted for a change in the dugout with Scott Parker replacing Claudio Ranieri, and the ex-midfielder finds himself taking on his former club.

Maurizio Sarri finds himself under pressure at Stamford Bridge, but the Italian has witnessed his side impress against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur over the past seven days.

Chelsea prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline when these two teams met late in 2018.

FULL TIME:

90+6 minFulham 1-2 Chelsea

90+6 minMitrovic concedes a foul in the area and that should be that.

90+5 minFulham win a free kick inside the Chelsea half. One last chance...

90+4 minSessegnon has the ball in the net after a knockdown, but the youngster was half-a-yard offside as he converted from close range.

90+2 minAnguissa has now caught Willian in the ribs and there is another stoppage. I'd say that we still have four minutes to go.

90 minThere will be five minutes of added-on time. It will probably be longer than that with Bryan having just received treatment for a head injury after being caught by Kante.

88 minFulham had gone off the boil, but the pace of Ayite changes that. The substitute gets into the penalty before a flicked cross finds Mitrovic, but Arrizabalaga makes another fine save to his lift to keep the Serbian's header out.

86 minLoftus-Cheek should do better here. It is initially a fine piece of skill from the substitute as he entered the area, but he does not take the chance to get a shot away and the opening is lost.

84 minWe are going to have a break in play while Christensen receives treatment for a head injury. The Dane did well to challenge Chambers for a high ball, and it helped Arrizabalaga get his hands on it.

82 minThere are less than 10 minutes to go at Craven Cottage. This game remains very much in the balance. This would be massive for Chelsea if they can hang on to all three points.

80 minSUBSTITUTION! Fulham follow suit by introducing Vietto for Cairney.

78 minSUBSTITUTION! Chelsea's final switch sees Loftus-Cheek replace Barkley.

76 minChelsea have improved over the last couple of minutes, but the momentum remains with Fulham who really fancy their chances of finding an equaliser.

74 minSUBSTITUTION! Sarri reacts by making a second alteration as Pedro replaces Hazard.

SAVE!

73 minYet another save to add to the collection for both goalkeepers. Bryan attempts to curl the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards, but Arrizabalaga gets across to push the ball away.

72 minSUBSTITUTION! Fulham make a second switch with Ayite taking the place of Babel.

70 minThis is naughty from Bryan, who trips Willian after the whistle has gone. There is no action from the referee, and Sarri is not pleased in the slightest.

68 minSUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Sarri. Jorginho is being replaced by Kovacic.

67 minFulham really have look impressive going forward this afternoon. Cairney is the player to get a shot away on this occasion, but Arrizabalaga parries his 20-yard effort wide of the target.

65 minIt is Fulham's turn to go on the front foot. Arrizabalaga has not been forced into another save, but Chelsea are starting to struggle to deal with the threat which is coming their way.

63 minSUBSTITUTION! Fulham make a change with Anguissa coming on for McDonald.

62 minJorginho is the first Chelsea player to be cautioned for a lunge on Sessegnon. The Italian gets some of the ball, but does make contact with the youngster's ankle.

60 minMitrovic takes the opportunity to try his luck with a shot from 20 yards, but the ball fizzes marginally over Arrizabalaga's crossbar. The goalkeeper wasn't saving that if it was on target.

59 minYet another opening for Chelsea. Hazard surges past Odoi inside the area, but the Belgian cannot pick out a teammate in the middle.

57 minThis is good from Barkley. You don't normally associate the Englishman with tracking back, but he does just that to dispossess Sessegnon on the flank.

PENALTY APPEAL!

55 minChelsea now want a penalty for handball inside the area, but a cross from the right was struck towards the hand of Ream, rather than the American doing anything that he shouldn't.

CHANCE!

54 minYet another chance for Chelsea. A long ball finds Willian on the far side of the penalty area, but the winger volleys the ball into the side-netting.

52 minReam goes into the book for tripping Willian as the Brazilian attempted to go through the gears in the middle of the pitch.

SAVE!

50 minChelsea are really knocking on the door here. It is Willian's turn to try his luck, with a low drive towards the near post being smothered by Rico.

SAVE!

48 minThe visitors have gone straight onto the front foot, and Rico has to deal with a long-range effort from Hazard. It came as a result of a well-construct team move. It may have even been 'Sarri-ball'.

KICKOFF:

46 minChelsea get us back underway! No changes for either side.

2.55pmThe half-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and goals from Higuain and Jorginho have given Chelsea a 2-1 lead at the break. However, Fulham remain in this contest and have provided the visitors with plenty of problems.

HALF TIME:

45+2 minFulham 1-2 Chelsea

45+1 minRico makes yet another excellent save. It's almost a replica of the first goal with Azpilicueta teeing up Higuain, but Rico gets down to his left to keep the ball out.

45 minThere will be two minutes of added-on time.

43 minFulham have started to have to deal with much more in their own defensive third. Chelsea are beginning to play with a swagger, but they will want a third goal as soon as possible.

CHANCE!

41 minHow big could this save be at the end of the match? Hazard breaks through on the left-hand side of the penalty area, but his low strike is kept out by a strong left hand from Rico.

40 minJust the five minutes to go until the break. This first half has flown by! Neither team will want it to end because each are having some joy.

37 minHiguain has received criticism since joining Chelsea, but the Blues look much better with the Juventus loanee in the team. Hazard almost benefits from a clever pass from his teammate, but a Fulham defender makes a timely block.

35 minIn all fairness, Fulham are still not taking a backwards step. They feel that Chelsea are vulnerable at the back, but they are giving away more opportunities than they were in the early stages.

33 minChelsea should be further ahead. Higuain finally beats the offside trap and one touch to control gives him the chance to score from 14 yards. However, the forward can only blast his shot high over the crossbar.

GOAL!

31 minWhat a response. Hazard picks up the ball on the edge of the area before teeing up Jorginho, who sends a first-team effort into the top corner from 20 yards. Brilliant strike!

GOAL!

31 minFulham 1-2 Chelsea (Jorginho)

29 minFulham have their tails up now and Chelsea look extremely nervy at the back. This is now turning into a big test of character for Chelsea.

GOAL!

27 minFulham are level! They play the corner short but Babel then whips in an inswinging cross for Chambers, who is free at the back post and volleys past Arrizabalaga from eight yards out.

GOAL!

27 minFulham 1-1 Chelsea (Calum Chambers)

26 minThis is a really good save from Arrizabalaga. A cross from the left is deflected for Mitrovic, who sees a perfectly-struck volley tipped over the bar by the recalled goalkeeper.

24 minFulham have responded positively to going behind, but there will still be that thought of one goal quickly becoming two. It has been the story of their season.

22 minChambers goes into the book for a cynical tug on Willian on the halfway line.

GOAL!

20 minChelsea have the lead and Higuain has his third goal in a Blues shirt. Azpilicueta delivered a low cross for the forward, whose first-time volley went into the bottom corner of Rico's net.

GOAL!

20 minFulham 0-1 Chelsea (Gonzalo Higuain)

18 minWe have not seen much of Hazard in these early stages, but the Belgian does well on the edge of the area before finding Barkley. The Englishman attempts to find the far top corner, but his 20-yard strikes goes off target.

16 minThe visitors have just attempted their first press of the afternoon and it almost leads to Kane winning the ball. However, Ream gets the better of the Frenchman with his challenge.

14 minChelsea once again try to to get Higuain involved in the play but on this occasion, the January arrival has a shot on the turn blocked by a defender.

13 minThis game doesn't really feel like a derby encounter, but the Fulham fans are warming into this one. Parker will be pleased with the start from his team.

11 minChelsea are looking to get Higuain in behind the Fulham defence when they can, but it is doubtful whether the forward is going to win a foot race with any of the home side's backline.

9 minBoth teams are looking lively when they are on the ball. Parker seems to have instruct his Fulham side to target both flanks.

7 minFulham hit straight back. Cairney sees a shot blocked inside the area, but the ball falls invitingly for Bryan who curls a shot wide of the target from 30 yards out.

5 minThe first opportunity goes to Chelsea. A cross from Kante finds Higuain around 14 yards out, but the Argentine glances a header well wide of the target.

3 minIt has been a patient start from Chelsea who are prepared to spray the ball about with a certain degree of urgency in the middle third of the pitch.

KICKOFF:

1 minFulham get us underway!

2.04pmCHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Palmieri; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Willian, Higuain, Hazard

2.02pmFULHAM XI: Rico; Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan; Chambers, McDonald; Babel, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic

2pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Fulham and Chelsea. Scott Parker takes charge of his first game as caretaker boss of Fulham against his former club, who have found themselves in the headlines lately for a variety of reasons. The two teams are making their way out at Craven Cottage so let's see who features in each starting lineup...

Live Commentary: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea - as it happened

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