Chelsea 1-0 Fulham – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as ‘Cold’ Palmer keeps up red hot form for Blues as his penalty sees off local rivals and hands Mauricio Pochettino’s men third Premier League win in a row

Frank Lampard was back at Stamford Bridge today and sat in the director’s box alongside Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.

Given Lampard’s caretaker spell last season wasn’t at all successful, you wonder what they said to one another.

Click the link below to read more.

This was the bizarre moment a group of men in the stands at Stamford Bridge stood up and began brushing their teeth.

All is explained in our article. Click the link below!

Ben Chilwell came off the bench for Chelsea late on for his first action in four months following a hamstring injury. He helped his team see out the win.

He was speaking alongside scorer Palmer on TNT Sports.

There was a moment of high controversy in the first-half when Chelsea’s Malo Gusto went in studs-first on Willian after losing control of the ball, leaving the Brazilian in quite a bit of pain.

A yellow card was shown and the incident was checked by VAR, who decided against upgrading that punishment to a red.

Read more by clicking the link below.

That win moves Chelsea up to eighth in the Premier League table, joining Brighton and Manchester United on 31 points. They go above United but stay below Brighton on goal difference.

Fulham remain 13th on 24 points.

This was the penalty late in the first-half that would end up splitting the teams. Cole Palmer sending Bernd Leno the wrong way.

The final whistle blows on what built up into a very entertaining west London derby.

Chelsea emerged victorious, their third Premier League win in a row and they climb up to eighth in the table, above Manchester United.

Cole Palmer again their match-winner, coolly slotting home a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Raheem Sterling was brought down.

Fulham played their full part, creating quite a few good openings and Chelsea rode their luck at times but might equally have won by more.

Willian delivers, Tosin knocks it down, more pinball and finally Chelsea hack it away. That’ll be it.

Willian is fouled and Fulham have another chance to deliver the ball into the Chelsea box.

There’s an almighty scramble as Tosin and then Cairney try to force the ball home – but Chelsea survive!

Looks like Fulham will have one more chance to swing in a cross as Chilwell fouls Decordova-Reid on the right side…

Chelsea make two changes – Gusto and the scorer Palmer off, replaced by Chukwuemeka and Gilchrist.

Into added time of which there will be a minimum of five minutes.

As we do that, Noni Madueke’s low shot aimed at the corner is well saved by Leno.

Willian steps up to strike it but sends it over the crossbar. Too much power and insufficient placement.

Fulham now with a great opportunity as they win a free-kick right on the edge of Chelsea’s box in a central area. It’s only 20 yards from goal.

So close to sealing it for Chelsea!

The ball drops perfectly for Conor Gallagher maybe 12 yards out and he strikes it so well but the effort smashes back off the far post. Great technique and millimetres away.

Jimenez rather ambitiously tried to lob Petrovic from near halfway, ignoring Willian who was making a burst into space to his right. That hasn’t gone down well.

Two more subs for Fulham – off go Pereira and Palhinha, on come Muniz and Lukic.

Thiago Silva in trouble now, getting a yellow card for a cynical trip on Raul Jimenez as the Fulham striker threatened to break clear of him.

Cole Palmer also booked for booting the ball away amid all that.

Andreas Pereira steps up to take the free-kick himself. About 25 yards out but sent disappointingly over the bar.

A very popular change for Chelsea as Ben Chilwell returns from nearly four months out with injury, replacing Raheem Sterling. He grabs the armband from Gallagher.

Booking for Moises Caicedo for a rough tackle on Andreas Pereira, giving Fulham a free-kick in a very presentable position.

Straight down the other end and Raul Jimenez with a great chance for Fulham, a low shot that is pushed out one-handed by Petrovic!

Fulham very much in the contest and they went close there. Great work by Pereira initially to get the cross over and Fernandez slipped to present the Mexican with the opening.

Madueke looking lively since he came on as he attacks down the right again and wins a corner.

It’s cleared to Sterling but he can’t keep hold of the ball.

It’s Palmer making a nuisance of himself again with a brilliant turn in the Fulham box. Robinson comes across to block him off.

Fulham switch off for a second and Cole Palmer almost slips it through into Conor Gallagher right on the edge of their box. The pass just a fraction overhit and Leno comes out to gather.

A Chelsea change as well – Noni Madueke being introduced for Armando Broja.

Fulham are the first to turn to their bench – Bobby Decordova-Reid and Timothy Castagne come on for Harry Wilson and Kenny Tete.

Cole Palmer tries audaciously to curl the ball in from a very tight angle but clears Leno and sends it wide of the back stick too.

The second-half far more watchable than the first, that’s for sure!

Signs we might be in for an open second-half as Fulham attack into space down the left. Andreas Pereira with the hung up cross and Raul Jimenez heads it over.

No shortage of confidence about Fulham as they seek the equaliser.

Chelsea looking to make their position more comfortable and Sterling had just strayed offside as he rose to head against the post.

Chelsea come forward and the ball ends up with Cole Palmer on the edge of Fulham’s box. He shifts it left and decides to take on the shot, curling it high and wide of the far post.

Chelsea break away following that Fulham free-kick and Harry Wilson brings it to a hasty end with a foul that earns him a booking.

Fulham with the first chance to build pressure in the second-half as they win a free-kick close to the Chelsea box.

Tom Cairney delivers to the back spot but Chelsea get is away easily.

The two teams are back out on the pitch for the second-half. Chelsea with the lead but far from assured of their victory.

No changes to the teams at the break.

Before the goal, this was the moment that had everyone talking. Malo Gusto going in studs-first on Willian, making painful contact on the ankle.

It earned him a yellow card but VAR did consider – but decided against – the upgrade to a red.

What do you think?

A pretty dull first-half coming to life right at the end as Chelsea take the lead through Cole Palmer’s penalty, with Sterling brought down.

Both sides had the odd moment but mostly the opening 45 was pretty staid build-up with no end product.

Chelsea will be delighted to grab the advantage but Fulham very much still in contention.

A very well taken penalty by the man of the moment Cole Palmer, who sends Bernd Leno the wrong way. Clinically done.

Into stoppage time and suddenly some action – Raheem Sterling turns his man inside the box and goes down under the contact by Issa Diop. Looks like a definite penalty – and is given.

A golden chance for Chelsea to lead going into the break.

Just a couple of minutes of stoppage time at the end of a low key first period.

Fulham ending the first-half on top as they force a couple of corners. Pereira swings it into the six yard box and Thiago Silva is unchallenged as he heads it away.

Still not happening for Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez gets into a pocket of space and decides to shoot, missing the target by an embarrassingly big margin.

‘What a waste of money,’ chant the Fulham fans.

Malo Gusto into the book – he went in studs up on Willian after losing control of the ball and caught the former Chelsea man on the ankle.

Willian goes down in some distress and surely VAR will have a look at that too.

VAR does check it and decides no further sanction is needed. Willian thankfully back on his feet.

Robinson wins Fulham a corner with 10 minutes left until the break. It’s worked to Tom Cairney 25 yards out but he’s a long way off with the shot.

The game meandering along a bit, waiting for a spark. Both teams getting into promising positions but lacking the final product.

An even better chance for Fulham as Petrovic gets his body in the way of Harry Wilson’s powerful strike at the back post after Willian crossed from the left.

Fulham starting to create opportunities for all Chelsea’s dominance of the ball.

Fulham with a half-chance. Harry Wilson does well to win possession back for Fulham and feeds Andreas Pereira on the edge of Chelsea’s box.

He doesn’t have many options to decides to shoot and it’s tame, an easy save for Petrovic.

The crowd pretty subdued, as if waiting for Chelsea to step up the pressure again.

Raheem Sterling is tackled by Kenny Tete in what is fast becoming the key battle and Chelsea have a corner. It loops up into the air off a boot at the near post and Leno comes to collect.

That’s nice build-up by Chelsea and they come close through Armando Broja’s header, which whistles past Bernd Leno’s post.

It followed an inviting Fernandez cross from the left after Sterling threaded a pass through to him.

The closest anyone has come so far.

Finally a bit of respite for Fulham, with first Andreas Pereira and then Antonee Robinson attacking in wide areas. They’ll be grateful to get a feel for the ball.

Harry Wilson is down for Fulham after a challenge with Colwill. Wilson gingerly getting back to his feet.

Fernandez everywhere it seems during the opening 15 minutes. The Argentine tries to chip a pass into Sterling down the left channel but he’s beaten to the header.

Chelsea’s next move ends with Conor Gallagher shooting high and wide from the edge of the box.

The Blues dominant so far.

The hosts definitely on top in these opening exchanges – Enzo Fernandez is just left totally free on the edge of Fulham’s box but his shot is blocked.

Tete again taking a big risk as he waits for the pass to come to his feet rather than be proactive and Sterling slips in ahead of him. Levi Colwill takes over but his cross is cleared away.

Sterling finds himself in behind Fulham lines for the first time and he attempts to square it. Fulham manage to regroup and clear it away.

Momentary concern for Chelsea as Enzo Fernandez takes a knock but he can run it off.

Raheem Sterling putting the pressure on Kenny Tete as Fulham try to play their way out. Tete then catches Sterling and Chelsea have an early chance to load the box.

But the free-kick comes to nothing in the end.

Both teams in their traditional colours I’m pleased to say – Chelsea in blue, Fulham in white.

And we are off and running at Stamford Bridge in the first of two Premier League games today.

Chelsea get us started.

The flame machines pitchside burst into life as the players of Chelsea and Fulham make their way out onto the Stamford Bridge pitch.

A huge blue ‘Pride of London’ flag is passed over the crowd in the Matthew Harding Stand.

Not too much longer to wait now as we anticipate Chelsea vs Fulham in this lunchtime’s London derby.

It’s a dry but pretty chilly January day in the Capital. One for the thick coat and woolies.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Broja, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer.

Substitutes: Bettinelli, Bergström, Badiashile, Mudryk, Madueke, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Deivid, Gilchrist.

Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez.

Substitutes: Rodák, Reed, Ream, De Cordova-Reid, Muniz, Castagne, Lukic, Vinícius, Francois.

Into the final half-an-hour before kick-off and the players are being put through their paces as Stamford Bridge slowly fills up.

Fulham have claimed some notable scalps this season and despite their poor record against Chelsea, boss Marco Silva struck an optimistic tone on TNT Sports.

‘The recent story from Fulham here has not been great but in the last 18 months we have been breaking some very good records in this kind of thing,’ he said.

‘Last Premier League match we won against Arsenal and someone told me it had been 12 years since we won against Arsenal. This has been our recent story and hopefully we can do it this afternoon.

‘These type of games we step in and step up, we have been really competitive against any side in this league. I am really confident we are going to do it.’

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, speaking pre-match on TNT, again spoke of his team’s quest to find some consistency.

They’ve been picking up some decent league results but then lose to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup.

‘Fulham is a team that plays really well, they are very consistent and they have performed well in the last month and had a great result against Arsenal,’ Pochettino said.

‘They have great quality and a great coach.

‘The team is not consistent. We came off a very good run, we were the third or the fourth best side over Christmas, then we lost the first leg in Middlesbrough. Many big sides have lost against Middlesbrough in the last few years.

‘We are inconsistent and it looks like the end of the world but we need to be patient.’

Traditionally, Fulham have not done very well at all in this local derby with Chelsea.

They’ve won just one of their last 23 Premier League games against Chelsea (eight draws, 14 losses). But they did beat them 2-1 at Craven Cottage almost exactly a year ago.

What’s more, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 18 home league games against Fulham, winning 11 of those.

The last time Fulham won at Stamford Bridge in the league was in October 1979.

So Fulham fighting against history this afternoon.

Good to see Ben Chilwell named among the Chelsea subs today as he returns following nearly four months out with a hamstring injury.

The England left-back hasn’t played since the 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in late September.

Here’s Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, both in then starting line-up, arriving a short while ago.

Marco Silva has made three changes from the Fulham side that went down 2-1 at Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Kenny Tete starts ahead of Timothy Castagne in defence. Tom Cairney and Harry Wilson also make the line-up.

Harrison Reed has been struggling with illness and only lines up among the subs.

Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez.

Substitutes: Rodák, Reed, Ream, De Cordova-Reid, Muniz, Castagne, Lukic, Vinícius, Francois.

Mauricio Pochettino has made just one change from the team been 1-0 by Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Armando Broja comes in to replace Noni Madueke, who is on the bench. Ben Chilwell and Benoit Badiashile return to the squad and sit on the bench.

Nicolas Jackson away now at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Broja, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer.

Substitutes: Bettinelli, Bergström, Badiashile, Mudryk, Madueke, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Deivid, Gilchrist.

We will bring you the confirmed team line-ups shortly as we count down the final hour until kick-off.

What a nickname that is – ‘little Messi’.

His real name is Estevao Willian, he’s 16 and if reports in Brazil are to be believed, he’s being watched very closely by Chelsea.

Click the link to read more.

Lots of speculation with the transfer window open that Conor Gallagher, who has captained Chelsea this season, could be let go in order to balance the books under Financial Fair Play.

Even more surprisingly, the England midfielder has been linked with Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham.

Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports, clearly believes selling him would be a mistake.

These two clubs are so close together Fulham could have walked over. Instead they came by bus but here’s Bernd Leno and Tom Cairney greeting a young mascot as they arrived at Stamford Bridge.

It was definitely a move that raised a few eyebrows. Cole Palmer, one of the brightest talents in English football, allowed to leave Manchester City in the summer for a direct Premier League rival.

Since then, the £42.5m man had confirmed his class and is really standing out in this lavishly-assembled Chelsea side.

Mail Sport sat down with him at Cobham for an exclusive interview. Click the links to read.

Burnley 1-1 Luton Town

Chelsea vs Fulham (12.30pm)

Newcastle United vs Manchester City (5.30pm)

Everton vs Aston Villa (2pm)

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm)

We’ve also got a little winter break explainer for you HERE.

Only the five game in this smaller Premier League weekend with the matchday split in half so teams can enjoy a bit of winter down time.

The action started last night in a basement battle between Burnley and Luton that ended all-square.

Click the link below to read our match report from Turf Moor.

Welcome to your Premier League Saturday! Just the two matches today amidst the winter break but plenty to play for.

Later it’s Newcastle vs Manchester City but this lunchtime we have a London derby between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side still look very much a work in progress but victory here takes them above Manchester United and a big win could put them seventh.

Fulham are very much still in their Carabao Cup semi-final tie with Liverpool, having gone down 2-1 a Anfield in midweek, and they re-focus on league action knowing a win moves them to within one point of Chelsea.

It’s fair to say the Cottagers don’t have the best record against their near-neighbours and their recent away form has been pretty wretched, but you never know in the Premier League!