Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: Enzo Fernandez makes his debut but Blues held

British record signing Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut but could not help his new side claim only their second win of 2023 as they were held by Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Argentina midfielder Fernandez completed a £107m move to the Blues from Benfica three days ago and Graham Potter opted to hand him an immediate start.

He made a solid impression and almost enjoyed a dream debut when his curled effort flew just wide of the post in the second half.

Kai Havertz also went close before the break when his lobbed effort from Hakim Ziyech's superb pass clipped the woodwork before the ball was cleared off the line, while debutant David Datro Fofana had a shot cleared off the line late on after showing great control to wrongfoot the goalkeeper.

But overall Chelsea did not do enough to earn the win as they again struggled to create real goalscoring chances, finishing the game with just three shots on target.

Fulham fully deserved the point after a superb defensive display and move up to sixth in the table, three places and two points above Chelsea.

New faces, same issues for Chelsea

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly spent big during January, with the £288m outlay eclipsing the £270m spent in the summer, to ensure Potter has the players to push for a top-four finish in the second half of the season.

The biggest of the purchases was Fernandez. The World Cup winner has enjoyed a meteoric rise since moving to Benfica from River Plate for £8.8m last summer and has been bought by Chelsea to strengthen their midfield.

He provided a hint of what is to come from him against Fulham, topping the stats for most touches (59) and most tackles (five) than any other player in the first half, and came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock with his shot from outside the box in the second half.

Fellow January arrivals Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Fofana also featured in the game and while they had varying degrees of impact, Chelsea's long-running issue in front of goal was once again laid bare.

It took the hosts well over an hour to manage a shot on target, with the Blues - who started the game without a traditional striker - falling well short in the final third.

Fofana suggested he could improve that during his short time on the pitch, superbly rounding the goalkeeper late on before his goal-bound effort was cleared by Tim Ream, but they have now scored just two goals in their last six matches - a statistic that needs to improve quickly if they are to move higher up the table.

An impressive away display

Fulham have been exceptional since the World Cup, winning more games than any other side in the Premier League, and this performance highlighted why they are a serious threat for a finish in the European places.

Marco Silva's side were disciplined in their shape, frustrating the hosts as they struggled to find a way through the defence, and also carried a threat in attack themselves.

A bit more conviction from Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid with their shots in the second half and they may have come away with the win, but this was a very solid three points that keeps the Blues below them in the table.

Player of the match

TeteKenny Tete

Chelsea

Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva

Squad number5Player nameFernández

Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga

Squad number4Player nameBadiashile

Squad number24Player nameJames

Squad number31Player nameMadueke

Squad number27Player nameFofana

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta

Squad number17Player nameSterling

Squad number19Player nameMount

Squad number22Player nameZiyech

Squad number21Player nameChilwell

Squad number29Player nameHavertz

Squad number32Player nameCucurella

Squad number15Player nameMudryk

Fulham

Squad number2Player nameTete

Squad number20Player nameWillian

Squad number13Player nameReam

Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

Squad number33Player nameRobinson

Squad number6Player nameReed

Squad number17Player nameLeno

Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

Squad number31Player nameDiop

Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

Squad number9Player nameMitrovic

Squad number11Player nameSolomon

Squad number10Player nameCairney

Squad number8Player nameWilson

Squad number3Player nameKurzawa

Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-3-3

1Arrizabalaga

24James6Thiago Silva4Badiashile32Cucurella

23Gallagher5Fernández19Mount

22Ziyech29Havertz15Mudryk

Substitutes

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

17Leno

2Tete31Diop13Ream33Robinson

6Reed26João Palhinha

14De Cordova-Reid18Pereira20Willian

9Mitrovic

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 0, Fulham 0.

Second Half ends, Chelsea 0, Fulham 0.

Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Noni Madueke.

Attempt missed. Benoît Badiashile (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Carlos Vinícius.

Substitution, Fulham. Layvin Kurzawa replaces Andreas Pereira.

Harry Wilson (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Harry Wilson (Fulham).

Foul by Ben Chilwell (Chelsea).

Harry Wilson (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Attempt missed. João Palhinha (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.

Attempt blocked. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Substitution, Fulham. Tom Cairney replaces Harrison Reed.

Substitution, Fulham. Carlos Vinícius replaces Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).

Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by David Datro Fofana (Chelsea).

Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by David Datro Fofana (Chelsea).

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