Chelsea’s Premier League title aspirations took a significant hit as they suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Fulham at Stamford Bridge, their first loss to their London rivals at home since 1979. The dramatic west London derby saw Chelsea take an early lead, only to be undone by Fulham’s late resurgence.
Cole Palmer opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 16th minute with a stunning solo effort, weaving through Fulham’s defense before firing into the net from the edge of the area. The hosts appeared to be in control, but Fulham struck back with just eight minutes left. Antonee Robinson’s pinpoint cross found Timothy Castagne, who headed the ball down for Harry Wilson to nod in from close range. Chelsea protested vehemently, claiming Alex Iwobi had fouled Pedro Neto in the build-up, but the goal stood.
The visitors dealt the decisive blow in stoppage time when Rodrigo Muniz latched onto Sasa Lukic’s pass and delivered a clinical finish to secure Fulham’s first win at Stamford Bridge in over four decades. The defeat leaves Chelsea four points behind league leaders Liverpool, who hold two games in hand and could extend their lead with a win against Leicester later in the day.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest climbed to third place with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham at the City Ground. Anthony Elanga’s composed finish in the 28th minute secured Forest’s fourth consecutive win, a personal triumph for manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked by Tottenham in 2021. Tottenham’s struggles continued, exacerbated by Djed Spence’s red card late in the match, leaving them mired in 11th place under mounting pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou.
Meanwhile, Newcastle moved up to fifth with a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. Anthony Gordon’s brilliant curling strike in the second minute set the tone, and Villa’s Jhon Duran’s red card for violent conduct in the 32nd minute sealed their fate. Alexander Isak and Joelinton added goals to cap off a dominant performance.
At the bottom of the table, Jarrod Bowen’s 59th-minute goal gave West Ham a crucial 1-0 victory over Southampton, whose new manager Ivan Juric endured a frustrating debut. A red card for Guido Rodriguez was overturned by VAR, but the Saints failed to capitalize. Meanwhile, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium, offering little relief for either side in a congested midtable battle.
The results tighten the Premier League title race, with Chelsea’s loss adding urgency to their pursuit of Liverpool and Fulham’s resurgence further shaking the standings.
