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.
Hello 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...
FULHAM XI: Rico; Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan; Chambers, McDonald; Babel, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic
CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Palmieri; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Willian, Higuain, Hazard
KICKOFF: Fulham get us underway!
It 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.
The 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.
Fulham 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.
Both teams are looking lively when they are on the ball. Parker seems to have instruct his Fulham side to target both flanks.
Chelsea 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.
This 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.
Chelsea 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.
The 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.
We 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.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Chelsea (Gonzalo Higuain)
GOAL! Chelsea 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.
Chambers goes into the book for a cynical tug on Willian on the halfway line.
Fulham 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.
This 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.
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Chelsea (Calum Chambers)
GOAL! Fulham 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.
Fulham 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! Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (Jorginho)
GOAL! What 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!
Chelsea 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.
In 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.
Higuain 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.
Just 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.
CHANCE! How 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.
Fulham 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.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
Rico 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.
HALF TIME: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
The 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.
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway! No changes for either side.
SAVE! The 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'.
SAVE! Chelsea 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.
Ream goes into the book for tripping Willian as the Brazilian attempted to go through the gears in the middle of the pitch.
CHANCE! Yet 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.
PENALTY APPEAL! Chelsea 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.
This 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.
Yet another opening for Chelsea. Hazard surges past Odoi inside the area, but the Belgian cannot pick out a teammate in the middle.
Mitrovic 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.
Jorginho 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.
SUBSTITUTION! Fulham make a change with Anguissa coming on for McDonald.
It 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.
Fulham 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.
SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Sarri. Jorginho is being replaced by Kovacic.
This 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.
SUBSTITUTION! Fulham make a second switch with Ayite taking the place of Babel.
SAVE! Yet 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.
SUBSTITUTION! Sarri reacts by making a second alteration as Pedro replaces Hazard.
Chelsea have improved over the last couple of minutes, but the momentum remains with Fulham who really fancy their chances of finding an equaliser.
SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea's final switch sees Loftus-Cheek replace Barkley.
SUBSTITUTION! Fulham follow suit by introducing Vietto for Cairney.
There 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.
We 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.
Loftus-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.
Fulham 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.
There 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.
Anguissa has now caught Willian in the ribs and there is another stoppage. I'd say that we still have four minutes to go.
Sessegnon has the ball in the net after a knockdown, but the youngster was half-a-yard offside as he converted from close range.
Fulham win a free kick inside the Chelsea half. One last chance...
Mitrovic concedes a foul in the area and that should be that.
FULL TIME: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
