Sophia
Chelsea secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over West London rivals Fulham to kick off the Premier League weekend, entering the September international break unbeaten. However, the talking points from Stamford Bridge were dominated not by dazzling football, but by a series of contentious VAR decisions that left both sets of fans, and Fulham manager Marco Silva, fuming.
While the Blues ultimately prevailed, their performance was far from convincing, particularly in a first half where Fulham appeared the more dominant side. The win, therefore, may raise more questions than answers for Enzo Maresca’s squad as they look to build momentum.
VAR’s Troubled Start Continues to Plague Premier League
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been a constant source of debate since the season began, and Saturday’s derby only added fuel to the fire. Fulham’s impressive teenager, Joshua King, thought he had opened the scoring with a well-taken goal, only for VAR to intervene.
Referee Rob Jones was directed to the monitor to review an incident in the build-up, specifically a perceived foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah. After lengthy deliberation, Jones deemed Muniz’s contact “careless” and disallowed the goal. This decision sparked outrage, particularly as there was little protest on the field at the time.
Many argued that Muniz’s challenge was simply excellent center-forward play, winning the ball before making slight contact with Chalobah’s foot. Marco Silva was visibly furious, confronting Jones at halftime. His frustration likely intensified with Chelsea’s second goal, where a potential handball by João Pedro in the build-up to Ryan Sessegnon’s penalized handball (which stopped Chalobah’s cross) seemed to go unnoticed by the referee.
The prolonged decision-making process and the subjective nature of the calls continue to overshadow the game itself, leaving fans questioning the technology’s effectiveness in enhancing, rather than hindering, the match experience. For further context on VAR’s impact this season, you can read this Premier League VAR analysis.
Chelsea’s Emerging Striker Dilemma
Adding to Maresca’s concerns was the early exit of new signing Liam Delap, who suffered a hamstring injury just 15 minutes into the match. This setback comes barely a month after Chelsea’s demanding Club World Cup campaign, raising questions about player welfare and squad depth.
With Nicolas Jackson having departed and Christopher Nkunku joining AC Milan, Chelsea’s options up front are alarmingly thin. The injury to Delap meant that instead of a more experienced option, teenager Tyrique George was tasked with filling the void. George, a Cobham academy graduate, had been linked with a late transfer window move, but Delap’s injury now makes his retention a virtual certainty.
Given the significant investment made by BlueCo, the current state of Chelsea’s striker depth chart is a surprising development and a potential area of vulnerability for the team.
João Pedro’s Promising Start Continues
Amidst the VAR drama and injury woes, João Pedro continued his productive start to life at Chelsea. The Brazilian, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion, has proven to be a versatile asset, capable of operating as both a No. 9 and a No. 10.
Despite a quiet first half where he was closely marshaled by Sander Berge, Pedro broke the deadlock with a crucial headed finish from Enzo Fernández’s corner just before halftime. This goal marked his fourth goal contribution in just three league appearances this season, making him one of only four players to score at least five goals in their first five Chelsea games.
Pedro’s ability to use his body effectively in the box and his overall ingenuity will be vital for Chelsea, especially with Delap sidelined and Cole Palmer’s return still pending. He is quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Maresca’s attacking setup.
While Chelsea secured the three points, the victory was undoubtedly overshadowed by the pervasive influence of VAR and the emerging concerns over squad depth. As the international break offers a moment for reflection, Maresca will be keen to address these issues to ensure a more convincing run of performances in the demanding Premier League season ahead.
