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LIVE BLOG
90+3min: FULL-TIME. Job done
90min: Chelsea counter as Kanté wins the ball in midfield, but his pass out right to Pedro is a bit heavy and Pedro has to settle for a cross, which is cleared for a corner. The corner’s taken short and then played backwards to simply maintain possession. Three minutes added-on time.
88min: David Luiz heads clear a Fulham corner.
87min: Azpilicueta comes forward on the left for once and puts in a great cross. Kanté’s there, but his touch is poor and the shooting chance is gone.
86min: RLC wants another, but it’s blocked.
82min: GOAL!! At last, Chelsea put the game to bed. Hazard at the heart of it, finding Loftus-Cheek, who makes no mistake from 15 yards. 2-0, CHELSEA!
79min: Hazard fouled for the umpteenth time; 20 yards out, prime shooting opportunity. Hazard takes it, but it’s an easy catch for the on loan Sevilla goalkeeper Rico.
78min: Zappacosta on for Alonso in what is presumably a defensive switch as Azpilicueta goes over to the left.
76min: RLC bounds forward and beats a few before laying the ball on to Hazard, whose shot is blocked.
75min: The decently dangerous Cairney makes way for Kebano for Fulham’s final change.
73min: Morata blazes over the bar with the empty net gaping after Rico makes a tremendous save on a Hazard shot. Oh dear oh dear.
70min: Morata on for Giroud.
69min: Azpilicueta does not avoid the yellow this time as he clears the ball through Cairney to stop another Fulham counter after Alonso’s cross was cleared.
66min: Azpilicueta gets caught on the ball but stops the counter and avoids a yellow. Loftus-Cheek comes on to replacing the hobbling Kovačić.
65min: Fulham come forward on the right as Kamara beats/fouls Alonso. Kanté contains the initial danger but Kepa’s called into action as Chambers runs on for an effort from the top of the box.
64min: Fulham alive to a long ball from Rudiger for Hazard, but otherwise it’s been mostly aimless possession from the Blues. Kovačić appears to pick up a knock on his other foot before Pedro tests Rico with an easy effort at the far post.
60min: Alonso takes, but it’s an easy catch for Rico.
59min: Kanté injects some life into proceedings by battling for the ball and winning a free kick 30 yards out.
58min: David Luiz comes forward and breaks the lines once again, finding Hazard. He turns upfield and drives forward, finding Giroud. But the ball skips over his touch and goes out for a throw. Chelsea not at their best this half.
54min: Fulham come forward on the right, Christie’s cross is cleared for a corner by a sliding Rudiger. Seri takes the corner and Chambers gets a head to it at the near post, forcing a great reflex save from Kepa. Pedro completes the clearance and gets a whack to the midriff from Odoi for his troubles. Odoi finally goes into the book at the third time asking.
52min: Alonso continues to overhit his crosses.
51min: Pedro picks up a knock off the ball, which he tries to run off.
49min: David Luiz finds Pedro between the lines and suddenly it all opens for him. He takes aim with his right, but Rico parries easily.
46min: The changes work almost immediately, but Mitrovic pushes Rudiger over in the tussle for the ball in the six-yard box and the danger is passed.
HALF-TIME: The Tinkerman makes two changes at half-time, with Ayité and Kamara replacing Sessegnon and Johansen, switching to a lone-forward in the process but presumably to better deal with Chelsea’s midfield.
45+1min: HALF-TIME
45min: Kovačić picks up a knock on his right foot as he clears the ball just ahead of Cairney, but Fulham win the corner. Alonso clears and Hazard is out alone on the counter. He holds the ball up then finds Pedro, whose return ball for Hazard is cleared.
43min: Great play on the right between Kanté and Azpilicueta, with a 1-2 on the underlap, and Azpi’s cross is almost turned in by Giroud but for a great save by Rico.
39min: Great flowing move with Giroud, Hazard, and Alonso gets Chelsea another corner. Pedro takes, Odoi clears, Chelsea maintain possession. Then, Hazard’s shot is blocked and so is David Luiz’s follow-up.
37min: Giroud pinches the square pass from Christie and Chelsea flood forward. Kovačić almost picks Giroud out in the middle, but it’s a corner instead. Chambers clears Hazard’s corner.
35min: Fulham create through Cairney and Seri, but Azpilicueta blocks for a corner which is wasted. A quick counter is stopped by Odoi, who avoids a yellow again for stopping the free kick.
32min: Chelsea pass it around at the back well enough, but forays forward are not too cohesive at the moment.
28min: Odoi hugs Hazard to the ground for one of the clearer fouls you’ll ever see. Free kick 30 yards out. David Luiz takes aim, but it’s blocked for a corner, which is wasted.
26min: Kovačić loses the ball again with a long touch, but Kanté’s on hand to stop Fulham by fouling Cairney. He avoids a yellow by looking adorable.
23min: Lovely ball from Jorginho out to Hazard on the left, who runs at the defense and finds Giroud with a through ball, but Giroud’s cutback is blocked by the goalkeeper.
21min: Chelsea go route one, with David Luiz doing his best Fàbregas impression and picking out Pedro over the top, who just misses what would’ve been an acrobatic, tremendous finish.
18min: If Alonso can dial in his crosses, there’s lots of danger to be had. Meanwhile, Kanté tries his luck from distance but it’s blocked. Pedro recovers and Chelsea back in possession.
16min: Solid save from Kepa as Chambers lets one fly from 20 yards.
14min: Chelsea settle in and continue the standard pressure, with Alonso starting to be involved. The final balls have been a bit inaccurate however.
9min: Mitrovic holds off David Luiz and Fulham work a cross, but Rudiger clears for a corner, which Chelsea defend well and counter through Hazard and Pedro, but his cross is behind Giroud and the chance is gone.
6min: Kovačić loses the ball with a loose touch on the dribble, but David Luiz is alert to the danger and clears. Fulham staying positive.
4min: GOAL!! Kanté pinches the ball off Seri in the high press, lays it on for Pedro, he cuts inside and finishes cooly into the far corner. Easy as you like. 1-0, CHELSEA!
3min: Chelsea build from the back and come forward through Hazard, who finds Kanté, who finds Pedro, but his cross is too close to the goalkeeper and he collects ahead of Giroud. Lovely flowing move.
2min: A bit of early pressure from Fulham, but Chelsea defending well and keeping their shape.
1min: A nice little chant for Ranieri. Welcome back, Claudio!
KICK-OFF: The teams are out, the fireworks are done, and we’re off. Chelsea gets us underway, with the usual long ball down the left, but a David Luiz’s long ball is low and cut out and Fulham have possession. Christie drives forward and forces Kepa into an early, easy save.
On “Triple Derby” Super Sunday, Chelsea contest the West London Derby for the first time since 2014. With Arsenal (one point behind) vs. Spurs (two points ahead) to follow, Chelsea have a chance to gain a bit of advantage on at least one of our top four rivals (three teams into two spots) with the three points.
Here we go — Kepa (of course) and Giroud (more goals?) keep their spots from Thursday! Unfortunately, André Schürrle misses out on his Bridge return with an injury.
Chelsea starting lineup (4-3-3):
Arrizabalaga | Alonso, David Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta (c) | Kovačić, Jorginho, Kanté | Hazard, Giroud, Pedro
Substitutes from: Caballero, Fàbregas, Loftus-Cheek, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen, Morata
Fulham starting lineup (4<4>2):
Rico | La Marchand, Mawson, Odoi, Christie | Johansen, Seri, Cairney (c), Chambers | Mitrović, Sessegnon
Substitutes from: Bettinelli, Kebano, Ayité, Ream, Bryan, Cissé, Kamara
Date / Time: Sunday, December 2, 2018, 12:00 GMT; 7am EST; 5:30pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Craig Pawson
On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); NBCSN, Univeso (USA); Star Sports Select HD2 (India); elsewhere
Streaming online: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live, Universo NOW (USA); Hotstar (India); Fubo TV (affiliate link — USA only)
Be excellent to each other.