A 1-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday saw Chelsea’s bid for a spot in next season’s Champions League stagnate, while Fulham had an easy 2-0 win over Tottenham.
Arsenal moved back up to second and within 12 points of Liverpool as Mikel Merino netted the only goal of a poor game at the Emirates.
Chelsea could have really done with the absence of Cole Palmer through illness, as they meekly capitulated in a costly defeat to their top-four aspirations.
Now, the Blues remain in fourth place, but there are five clubs from fifth-placed Manchester City down to’s ninth-placed Aston Villa within four points of Enzo Maresca’s team.
Following the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury a few weeks desiring midfield Merino has had no option but to force him into a makeshift centre-forward position and Arsenal have fared badly for goals ever since.
The Spaniard turned match winner from a corner when he nodded Martin Odegaard’s delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.
Chelsea rarely looked like scoring but they were gifted a route back into the game minutes later when David Raya fumbling a shot from Marc Cucurella with the ball rolling just wide.
Down the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a fine save to keep out Merino from doubling Arsenals lead with the best effort in the second period.
However, little proved troublesome in either direction as a schoolboy showing will do little for dissenting Chelsea support of Maresca’s ethos.
Spurs’ European hangover
Tottenham progressed to the Europa League quarter finals on Thursday following a win over AZ Alkmaar which kept their season alive, but they found themselves suffering yet another European hangover at Craven Cottage.
And Fulham’s win sends Marco Silva’s side into the top-eight and four points off the top four, and three off the top five and a place at the next round of the 2024 Champions League.
Given the strength of English sides in Europe this season, a top-five finish will almost certainly guarantee qualification for next season’s continental showpiece.
Yet Spurs have not always fared well when it comes to managing the burden of Thursday nights with their Premier League form.
In all 10 league matches following a midweek Europa League fixture, Ange Postecoglou’s side have managed only three wins.
Fulham continued to be the superior side throughout but had to wait until 78 minutes to go ahead, with Rodrigo Muniz guiding home the opener from a pass from Andreas Pereira.
And Ryan Sessegnon then curled in a fine second against his former club to seal it late on.
While Manchester United are also in action on Sunday, when Ruben Amorim’s side travels to a League One Leicester.