Chelsea suffer worst Premier League collapse of century against Fulham as Enzo Maresca explains Noni Madueke snub

Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League illness of the 2000s successful their shock 2-1 location loss to Fulham astatine Stamford Bridge connected Boxing Day.

Victory for Enzo Maresca's squad successful the West London derby would person chopped the spread to leaders Liverpool to conscionable 1 point, albeit having played 2 much games than the Reds.

Chelsea's quest for 3 points against their adjacent neighbours kicked disconnected connected the close foot, arsenic Cole Palmer guided location an exquisite side-footed opener aft evading a mates of challenges.

The England planetary broke a Chelsea goalscoring record with his sublime onslaught astatine Stamford Bridge, but his 26th Premier League extremity of 2024 would not beryllium a precursor for a ascendant derby win.

A precocious leveller from Harry Wilson preceded a last-gasp victor from Rodrigo Muniz, who sent the distant extremity into pandemonium successful the 5th infinitesimal of added clip arsenic Fulham won a league crippled distant to Chelsea for the archetypal clip successful 45 years.

Chelsea condemned to biggest Premier League illness since 1999

© Imago

Chelsea were a extremity to the bully until Wilson struck with 8 minutes of mean clip remaining, and Thursday's nonaccomplishment marked the archetypal clip since October 1999 that they person mislaid a Premier League crippled wherever they were starring up to the 82nd minute.

On that occasion, the Blues were coincidentally besides astatine location to different London rival successful the signifier of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, taking a 2-0 pb wrong the hr people acknowledgment to Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu.

However, Kanu chopped the shortage successful fractional successful the 75th minute, earlier drafting Arsenal level successful the 83rd and completing a stunning hat-trick connected the 90-minute people against Gianluca Vialli's Chelsea.

An absent attacker stole the pre-game headlines astatine Stamford Bridge connected Boxing Day, arsenic Noni Madueke was near retired of the squad wholly aft being fixed conscionable 14 minutes successful the goalless gully with Everton astatine the weekend.

Instead, Maresca selected Tyrique George and Marc Guiu to capable the bare spots connected the bench, arsenic good arsenic calling up third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli alongside fig 2 Filip Jorgensen.

Maresca: 'Madueke lack was a method decision'

© Imago

Explaining Madueke's snub, Maresca simply stated that the winger's lack was a 'technical decision', though helium has not been shy to criticise the England planetary successful the past.

Madueke started 11 Premier League games connected the bounce earlier being demoted for the 3-0 triumph implicit Aston Villa successful aboriginal December, though the 22-year-old inactive came disconnected the seat to registry an assistance that day.

On that day, Maresca openly admitted that Madueke's cognition to grooming was poor, and helium is seemingly warring an uphill conflict to instrumentality to the fold for Monday's travel to Ipswich Town.

Chelsea' nonaccomplishment coupled with Liverpool's 3-1 triumph implicit Leicester City aboriginal successful the time saw the Blues autumn 7 points down the Reds successful the Premier League table, and they volition besides beryllium leapfrogged by Arsenal if the Gunners bushed Ipswich Town connected Friday.

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