Kai Havertz brace inspires Chelsea to Premier League win over Fulham

Kai Havertz scored twice as Chelsea registered an easy win over Fulham in a Premier League match on Saturday (May 1). Two goals in either half from Havertz saw the Blues cement their hold over fourth place. They are currently on 58 points, three points ahead of fifth-place West Ham United. The loss saw their south-west London neighbours Fulham move closer to relegation. They currently sit 18th with 27 points, six behind 17th placed Newcastle United.

Fulham started the game brightly, pressing Chelsea hard and looking to force the back-line into turnovers. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel rested certain players with an eye on the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid coming on later this week. The rotation had some effect on the side’s cohesion early on.

Yet with Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz up front, they possessed plenty of pace and trickery. Werner’s final product was again lacking and the German forward looked shorn of confidence.

But his runs in behind were causing issues, as was Havertz’s roving movement and link-up play. And it was Havertz who opened the scoring for Chelsea.

A well-weighted ball from Mason Mount found Havertz in behind. He took a touch and slotted it past the goalkeeper. Fulham, who were lively till that point, now looked deflated.

To their credit, they didn’t shirk the ball and fall back deep thereafter. They looked to play their game but couldn’t create the kind of chances to hurt Chelsea.

Chelsea’s three-man defence were rarely troubled and neither was goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. When the Senegalese international was called upon, he was excellent.

More of the same in 2nd half

The second half began and before Fulham really settled in, they were 2-0 down. Werner played the ball to Havertz, who took a touch and slotted home with ease.

Chelsea now had a comfortable lead to sit on and looked to keep the ball without being too adventurous. Fulham tried to take the game to them but again, failed to create any top notch chances.

Such was the comfort level of the game that Tuchel gave run-outs to Tammy Abraham, N’Golo Kante and Marcos Alonso as the clock ran down.

For Chelsea, it was a case of job well done. For Fulham, they will consider themselves lucky to have lost by only two.