Chelsea need centre-back signing, Joao Pedro stars amid striker chaos: 5 things learned from win vs Fulham
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Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago
Oliver Walton
Sat 30 August 2025 20:00, UK
Chelsea emerged with a 2-0 win over West London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge in a game marred by controversy in both halves.
The two teams shared the possession early on, but it was Fulham who thought they had taken the lead in the first-half as Josh King raced through on goal and dispatched coolly past Robert Sanchez.
It was then reviewed by VAR and King’s strike was ruled out for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah, much to the dismay of the visitors.
Chelsea then took the lead just before the interval as Joao Pedro nodded home from Enzo Fernandez’s corner, and the Argentine international doubled the hosts’ lead in the second-half from the spot after Ryan Sessegnon was penalised for handball.
It was a game full of controversy as Fulham felt hard done by once again following a foul by Moises Caicedo in the lead up to Sessegnon’s, but Chelsea ultimately came away with the three points after a 2-0 win.
Here are five things we learned about the Blues from Saturday’s encounter.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Chelsea were played through way too easily against Fulham, and King’s eventually disallowed goal was proof of such as he raced past Tosin Adarabioyo with Chalobah way out of position after Muniz’s challenge.
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Maresca has reiterated his desire for the club to sign a centre-back throughout the final weeks of the window after Levi Colwill suffered a serious ACL injury, and he may well have a point based off this showing.
They do have depth at centre-back, but whether the likes of Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato or Josh Acheampong can be influential enough to both start every week and lead Chelsea to Premier League or Champions League glory is uncertain, so a late capture may well be needed.
Photo Credit: Imago
Pedro has already displayed his star quality for Chelsea since his summer move from Brighton, with three goals in three Club World Cup appearances, and he has continued that form into the Premier League so far.
The Brazil international was key to their win over West Ham prior to this game, and he opened the scoring with aplomb against Fulham to set Chelsea on their way to victory.
It was a first-half of few chances for the hosts, but Pedro was the only one that looked like finding a way through, and he will now need to be relied on as a centre-forward in Liam Delap’s absence.
Fernandez actually had a brilliant game as he notched a goal and an assist to continue his stellar start to the season and good performances from the Club World Cup.
Credit: Imago
He did seem to be angry at half-time, though, as Fernandez was seen shouting at a member of Chelsea’s medical staff just before running down the tunnel, while offering the backroom figure his captain’s armband.
Whether that was simply a moment of madness or a small falling out is unclear right now, but it was not a good look for the Argentine midfielder, and Fernandez could well be stripped of the responsibility to wear the armband when Reece James is not on the pitch if Maresca takes offence.
Nicolas Jackson’s Chelsea future has been up in the air all summer after the arrivals of both Pedro and Liam Delap, but the latter’s injury concerns against Fulham have meant that he is set to stay at the club this summer.
(Credit Imago)
Bayern Munich have been set to sign Jackson on loan ahead of the deadline, but Delap was forced off with a hamstring issue after just 14 minutes as Maresca turned to Tyrique George to come on.
The Blues boss confirmed after the game that Delap is set to spend six to eight weeks out on the treatment table, and now Chelsea have refused Jackson his move to Bayern, which is the correct decision in the circumstances.
Cole Palmer was ruled out of the West Ham game just before kick-off, and he was unable to get over his issue to play any part against Fulham, much to the detriment of Chelsea’s attack.
Credit: Imago
Fulham, unlike the Hammers, were resolute at the back and could hardly be broken down without a player of his quality in attacking midfield.
He had been questioned at times last season due to his lack of contributions compared to his stellar 2023/24 campaign, but they are still a better team with him in it and will want him back quickly after the international break.