Premier League 2018/19, Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

Goals from Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek got Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea back to winning ways as they piled further misery on Fulham with a 2-0 home victory. The hosts were far from their prolific best, but they got the job done, nevertheless.

As envisioned and expected, they dominated proceedings but the opposition did have their chances, especially in the second half. However, lack of incisiveness and a calm head fueled their problems in front of goal.

The win gives Chelsea another positive home result. They haven’t lost any of their last 11 home games in the Premier League (W6 D5) – their longest unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in the competition since August 2015.

Here are the major talking points from Chelsea's 2-0 home victory over a hapless Fulham outfit.

#5 Fulham get us underway, but Pedro scores early

Fulham got us underway with some exquisite football in the early moments of the game. The Blues kick-started proceedings but Cyrus Christie produced the first save of the match from Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard would surely have not expected himself to be tested so early on.

The same man darted forward down the flank once again, but his pull-back was cleared off the lines.

A moment later, Seri was pick-pocketed in the center of the park by the ever-so-energetic N'Golo Kante, who played it through to Pedro.

The Spaniard, who earned his first league start in almost a month, took it with both hands. He was on the move even before Kante picked the ball up. He then shifted to his left and wrapped his left foot around the ball, leaving Sergio Rico with no chance.

The 31-year-old's strike was Chelsea's 1000th home goal in the Premier League.

From then, Chelsea didn't threaten till Giroud enjoyed a couple of opportunities later on, but Fulham were made to reorganize and work hard for the circulation of their ball.

For the rest of the half, a majority of the football was played by the hosts as they saw 70% of the ball and racked up 429 passes.

#4 There was nothing to show from Chelsea after the goal

Chelsea failed to convert their sheer first-half dominance into a healthier advantage in terms of a lead.

After the first chance the Cottagers created, Mitrovic combined with Cairney and on the back of their intelligent exchange, Chambers let one go, asking questions to Kepa yet again.

Hazard, who was drafted back into the XI, barely made an impact until the dying stages of the first half.

He wasn't involved until the 25th minute or so, and even if he did get a chance to run at the opposition defence, the Belgium skipper was pegged back and thrown to the ground.

The visitors looked a bit flat and passive, but Chelsea didn't make amends of the opponent's profligacy at the back.

When they took the lead, it seemed like Ranieri's men are in for a long afternoon. But the Blues couldn't shift gears or move the ball with urgency and conviction.

Giroud's first strike was easily parried away by Rico as it was from an acute angle. The French striker tested the Sevilla loanee again, on the back of some excellent movement. This was all from Maurizio Sarri's team in the first 45 minutes.

#3 Fulham failed to create clear-cut chances

Mitrovic wasn't given the best of service

Fulham threatened twice in the first-half and also had the best chances in the second until Loftus-Cheek's strike. However, they could have had many more fine chances.

Calum Chambers saw his fine header saved by Kepa, who had a busier outing today. The same man beat three blue shirts down the right side and found himself in space, but couldn't produce the right delivery for his eager teammates.

Seri too, had a couple of set pieces to make something happened, but his delivery was way off the pace. A corner that he fizzed in, in the 87th minute, was his best contribution in the entire fixture.

The away side tried to lock Jorginho down and choke him for time and space, but following that move, they themselves failed to move it forward quicker.

Post Cairney's withdrawal, Fulham's creativity totally dried and eventually perished after the second goal.

Their decision making in the final third was simply abysmal.

#2 Loftus-Cheek asked questions once again

Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the deal for Sarri's men in the 82nd minute after the hosts struggled to carve out an opening and put the game to bed.

The Englishman has not done the same for the first time this season albeit, and once more, he illustrated how effective he can be for any team.

Since he came on, the youngster always looked to be on the move. Till the final whistle, the 22-year-old was a willing runner - the same kind that a side drilled by Maurizio Sarri requires. His movement whenever Chelsea took the attack to the opposition was excellent praiseworthy.

He has only made four substitute appearances this term in the domestic league, and already has a couple of goals to his name. Till the start of this season, you knew he was an all-round performer - someone who could defend and use his physicality, someone who was technically sound and someone who was creative.

But now, he has really added goals to his name. Loftus-Cheek is just 22 and he already has so many attributes that portray how talented, unique and mature he is.

Time and time again, he is proving his worth to the boss - with his fifth goal in the last six appearances in all competitions for the West London giants.

#1 Chelsea are far off the title race

The Sarri-ball will take time to be implanted at Stamford Bridge

Although Chelsea have only lost one game all season, kept pace with the Premier League elites, qualified to the next round of the Europa League and the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, they aren't quite there at the moment.

When teams have not covered the kilometers and shown too much respect, the Blues have been relentless.

Some of their passes, goals and moves have dropped jaws all the all the way down to the floor, but they are a long way off what Sarri wants from his team.

Defensively, the likes of Marcos Alonso are caught out of position number of times, which draws the center-backs out and creates a lot of problems.

Individually, the defence doesn't always move the way the gaffer wants them to, and that, was seen in the defeat at Tottenham.

In the attacking sense as well, Eden Hazard and co. have been blowing hot and cold. The same sort of movement that Loftus-Cheek and Hazard showed for the second goal needs to be replicated more often, especially if they have to beat a gigantic Manchester City next weekend.

Hence, it will take time for the Sarri-ball to be implemented, but one can't argue against the fact that they are in the wrong direction.

Edited by Alan John