Enzo Maresca decision costs Chelsea as Fulham defeat sends Premier League title reminder
Chelsea were beaten on Boxing Day in what is the Blues' third defeat of the Premier League season.
Cole Palmer handed the hosts an early lead at Stamford Bridge with a wonderful solo goal but Chelsea were pegged back late on. Fulham levelled the match through Harry Wilson before Rodrigo Muniz's strike deep into stoppage time handed the Cottagers all three points in the west London derby. Below, Bobby Vincent discusses the main talking points...
Maresca decision costs Chelsea
It is fair to say, I think, that Chelsea's attacking line looked leggy. Palmer was bright, inevitably, and so was Nicolas Jackson before he was brought off. However, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho struggled to get into the game from the wings.
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While Chelsea have a squad full of talent, especially in attacking areas, Enzo Maresca made just one substitute. Christopher Nkunku came on for Jackson but that didn't work. Maresca needed to make more changes.
It feels like a bit of a waste when you look to the bench and see the likes of Joao Felix, Tyrique George and Marc Guiu sat down. However, Maresca chose not to use the substitutes and ultimately it cost the Blues on the afternoon.
Premier League title reminder
A lot of people have felt that Maresca denying Chelsea are in a title race is more mind-games than anything else. However, it genuinely feels as if the Italian thinks his team are not ready.
Boxing Day was a reminder that perhaps the Blues are not at a stage to compete with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. Fulham deserved to take all three points. While Chelsea had their moments, their lack of game management was a bit of a concern.
The game became too chaotic and that is not the Maresca way. Usually he wants his team to dominate the possession and take the sting out of the game but the Blues failed to do that.
The nature of the match suited Fulham and their counter-attacking a lot better than it did Chelsea.
"The first 10-15 minutes of the second half we conceded too many transitions," Maresca said to Amazon Prime post-match. "We could control the second half much better. Then I think the game was there and unfortunately we conceded in the last minutes."
