Enzo Fernandez shows fiery side, Liam Delap injury sparks striker crisis, and wonderkid shines in Chelsea’s controversial 2-0 win over Fulham

Chelsea moved to the top of the Premier League with a controversial 2-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 

Teenager Josh King thought he scored his first Fulham goal after 21 minutes when he finished confidently – but it was ruled out after team-mate Rodrigo Muniz was judged to have stepped on Trevoh Chalobah in the build up following a VAR check. 

The hosts eventually broke the deadlock nine minutes into injury time of the first half thanks to a header by Joao Pedro from Enzo Fernandez‘s corner. 

The controversy continued in the second-half when Fulham were penalised after Ryan Seasoning was judge to have handled the ball in the penalty box. 

Fernandez converted from the spot after 56 minutes to seal all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side in the West London derby. 

Here, Daily Mail Sport’s KIERAN GILL assesses things we learned from the showdown. 

Chelsea moved to the top of the Premier with a controversial 2-0 win over Fulham

Referee Robert Jones was at the heart of both Chelsea goal amid VAR reviews

Blues’ striker crisis 

On the day that Chelsea sold Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan for £36million, and gave Nicolas Jackson permission to fly to complete his £12.9m loan to Bayern Munich with a £56.2m option, Enzo Maresca watched as Liam Delap pulled up holding his hamstring.

Delap was sprinting in behind Fulham’s back line when he suffered his injury with Maresca admitting afterwards it ‘does not look good’ for the 22-year-old Englishman.

Maresca said ‘we will see’ about entering the striker market amid concerns he is not blessed with options without Delap – before the Blues quickly made the decision to order Jackson fly back from Munich just as he was on the brink of a move to the German giants.

He has Joao Pedro, but the cupboard is otherwise bare in spite of their spending, even with Chelsea making a late U-turn on Jackson. It remains to be seen how this will have impacted the Senegalese striker.

There is Tyrique George, the 19-year-old academy graduate who is available for sale with Serie A Roma seriously interested in him. He is not a striker anyway.

There is Cole Palmer, who missed this match with a groin issue and again, he is not a striker. There is Estevao Willian, who is brand new to the Premier League and again, he is not a striker. There is Pedro Neto, who, you guessed it, is not a striker.

Chelsea went through a crisis last season when all of their recognised No 9s were injured and now, Delap’s issue has left them in a nervous place with deadline day approaching – despite Jackson being forced back into the blue shirt.

Blues striker Liam Delap pulled up holding his hamstring early in the first half

Argentinian showing his fiery side

Enzo Fernandez had been having a shocker of a first half when Andrey Santos was sent to warm-up on his own, indicating the 24-year-old Argentine was set for a half-time hooking.

Then, Fernandez curled in the corner which handed Chelsea their 1-0 lead via a header from Joao Pedro. Fernandez reacted not by celebrating, but by yelling angrily towards the Blues’ bench.

At the half-time whistle, Fernandez ran straight to Chelsea fitness coach Marcos Alvarez and appeared to try to hand him his captain’s armband before storming down the tunnel.

Chelsea never went through with the half-time substitution and it was a good job, too, as Fernandez improved in the second half. He scored to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot and suddenly appeared a much happier man.

Fernandez and Alvarez shared a big hug after full-time as all was forgiven and forgotten.

Enzo Fernandez had a mixed afternoon but managed to register a goal and an asist

Mad Marco cannot contain anger

We came as close to seeing a Premier League manager spontaneously combust as we ever have here. Marco Silva was an angry man, not least after Josh King was denied the dream goal for an 18-year-old academy graduate from Fulham because of VAR.

In the build-up to King scoring, Trevoh Chalobah had gone down after a collision with Rodrigo Muniz. Referee Robert Jones, sent to his monitor by VAR Michael Salisbury, decided it was a ‘careless challenge’ by Muniz and announced it as such over the tannoy.

Silva disagreed, and so did the Fulham fans upon the replays being shown on Stamford Bridge’s big screens. You could understand why. Muniz was in control of the ball. Chalobah came to challenge him. What happened was natural and yet, King paid the price.

Maresca may have known Chelsea got away with one in that moment as he turned to his bench and gave a cheeky smile and a wink.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was left fuming after a number of VAR decisions went against his side

The season of the wonderkids

Wonderkids are becoming a theme of 2025-26. Liverpool won at Newcastle last week through Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old formerly of Chelsea. Max Dowman, 15, is already appearing for Chelsea. King, 18, looked like a fine talent indeed for Fulham here.

We all wondered whether Estevao would live up to the hype, and though he has not yet scored in a competitive match, he is delivering in terms of excitement.

During what was largely a drab first half – even Timothee Chalamet, the Hollywood A-lister sat two rows in front of me, left after 41 minutes – the 18-year-old Brazilian brought a buzz to Stamford Bridge, especially when he showed his strength and skills during one run.

Chelsea teenager Estevao is delivering in terms of excitement after another impressive display

Another Brighton signing showing his worth

Football fans like to take the Mickey out of Chelsea’s obsession with Brighton, particularly now that they are in talks to bring in 20-year-old winger Facundo Buonanotte on loan.

But then nobody at Stamford Bridge regrets them bringing in Marc Cucurella, nor Moises Caicedo. Now, they believe they have struck gold again with Joao Pedro.

The 23-year-old Brazilian arrived during the Club World Cup for a deal rising up to £60m but since then, he has scored five goals in five starts for Chelsea. He also scored in both of their pre-season friendlies versus AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.

Brighton may like to describe Chelsea as their ‘best customer’ – and they are – but then the Blues have shown they know how to identify which players to pluck from their friends by the seaside.