Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: LIVE updates, stats, ratings, reactions

🏁 Chelsea win the Premier League Summer Series after beating Fulham 2-0.

The Blues opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Thiago Silva, who headed the ball past Leno after a Chilwell corner.

Chelsea doubled the lead four minutes before the break as Chukwuemeka won the ball outside the opposition box and ran forward. His shot was saved but Nkunku netted on the rebound.

The Blues created several more chances to score, especially in the first half, but Bernd Leno made some excellent saves for Fulham.

Overall, a good training game. The only worry is Trev Chalobah, who spent less than 15 minutes on the pitch and appeared to pick up a knock.

💬Pys: "Lewis Hall has been our best player this half, and was our best player a few times in the Premier League last season. Always a danger down that left side with his pace, link up, overlaps and crossing."

85' Slick backheel-in-the-air move by Angelo here as he did perfectly well to control a Gilchrist ball.

💬 Meilyn22: "Angelo! Even Poch had to clap there."

💬 Mapepo: "Gilchrist is tidy. Never heard of him before but he's showing some promise"

💬 Vegetable Coconut: "Maybe it’s the heat or the collection of players, but they look like they just want the game to be over with."

76' Reid shoots from angle and Bergstrom saves it, even if a bit awkwardly.

72' Gallagher makes a good tackle and starts an attack with Jackson firing wide trying to connect to a slightly over-powered Lewis Hall cross.

68' Gilchrist makes an excellent block so Jimenez can't get to the ball after Fulham catch Chelsea on the break.

💬 Critzor: "What happened to Cucu's pace? He was never blistering fast but he's beaten by every single winger now."

💬 Westfal987: "Oh Casadei. How many times he lost the ball now? 3 times? He's not having a good game atm."

67' Good defensive work by Colwill to tackle Jimenez and win the ball inside the box.

65' Some excellent footwork by Lewis Hall who glides past two Fulham players before being brought down.

64' Jackson wins the ball back inside the opposition's area, tries to feed a teammate but his pass is blocked.

🔄59' Chalobah off for Gilchrist after picking up a knock. Hall on for Nkunku and Bergstrom replaces Slonina.

56' A beautiful move by Chelsea with Maatsen firing at the goalie. The goal wouldn't have counted had he scored as he is flagged offside.

53' Casadei loses the ball just outside the box, leading to a dangerous move by Fulham. Dealt with by Colwill.

51' Nice block from Gallagher to deny Willian.

🔄 James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella, Jackson, Gallagher, Casadei, Angelo and Maatsen on. Nkunku and Slonina are the only players staying after half-time.

⌚46' We're back underway!

⌚ Half-time in Maryland!

Chelsea opened the scoring in the 20th minute as Thiago Silva rose highest in Fulham's box to head Chilwell's cross into the net.

Ben nearly scored ten minutes after the opener but Leno made an excellent save and Sterling was unlucky on the rebound.

Nkunku doubled the Blues' lead in the 41st minute. Chukwuemeka won possession inside Fulham's half and drove into the box before firing into Leno, with Nkunku putting the ball into the net on the rebound.

Apart from Silva and Chilwell, Humphreys and Santos are really standing out. The young centre-back is so composed in possession while Santos is showing his excellence in the midfield.

Enzo Fernandez missed a golden opportunity after being served an easy goal by a nice Sterling / Nkunku combination.

📊 Half-time ratings

Excellent: Thiago Silva, Santos 9; Chilwell, Humphreys, Nkunku 8

Good: Chukwuemkeka 7.5; Sterling, Slonina 6.5

Should have done better: Enzo, Gusto 6; Burstow 4

💬 DDragon85: "So happy with Chuk’s play here. Hope he uses his talent better than RLC before him."

⚽41' Nkunku doubles the Blues lead!!! Chukwuemeka regains possession just outside the Blues' box, runs into the area, his shot is saved by Leno but Nkunku nets on the rebound!

💬 G Jannyq: "Good play by Sterling using his pace and linking with Nkunku. Enzo has to do better"

💬 Clfs8: "He should have scored but that run was something Jorginho and Kovacic never did enough"

36' Chukwuemeka, Sterling and Nkunku combine and lay the ball on the plate for Enzo but Leno saves his effort and the Argentine fires wide on the rebound.

29' Chilwell forces a save from Leno, Sterling nearly scores on the rebound but the ball is blocked and goes out for a corner.

25' A drinks break in which Poch asks the players to pass shorter. He also tells Burstow to drop deeper to link up with midfielders.

⚽20' THIAGO SILVA HEADS THE BALL INTO THE NET! Lovely corner from Chilwell and the Brazilian wins the header to open the scoring for the Blues.

16' Santos is really bossing the midfield. Lovely interception here.

💬 Big Reece James: "No one would question it if Santos was a 40-50m signing from Italy"

10' A Fulham player easily glides past Enzo Fernandez to enter the box but the ball is cleared away for a corner.

8' Not much happening but Andrey Santos is having a good game in the midfield so far.

⌚1' We're underway!

🗣 Poch on Slonina: "A very short period of time working with us. All the information we have is very good. It's a good opportunity to see him. Kepa needs a rest. He's from here [USA], so it's very nice."

🗣 Poch on Burstow: "He's a young player. It's a good opportunity for him to start. We can only trust the players to see them play. It's a good opportunity for him and our fans to see him."

👉 Nizaar Kinsella: "Interesting Chelsea sign another centre-back [Disasi] but Bashir Humphreys is doing really well in pre-season. He has now started all but one of Chelsea's matches, playing 90 minutes last time against Newcastle."

✍ Arguably the biggest surprise is the inclusion of Gaga Slonina who makes his Chelsea debut. We'll also get to see some exciting youngsters in Chukwuemeka, Andrey and Mason Burstow.

📊 The kick-off is in 15 minutes and here is how the Blues will line up.

Chelsea XI: Slonina; Gusto, Thiago Silva, Humphreys, Chilwell; Enzo, Andrey Santos, Chukwuemeka; Sterling, Burstow, Nkunku.

Subs: Kepa, Bergstrom; Chalobah, Colwill, James, Cucurella, Maatsen, Gilchrist; Hall, Gallagher, Casadei; Angelo, Moreira, Jackson, Mudryk.

✨ Hi everyone and welcome to our coverage of the West London derby taking place in the US! Chelsea will play their penultimate friendly of the pre-season against Fulham.