Hull hold Chelsea, Liverpool fail to beat Fulham in Premier League

London – Hull held free-scoring Chelsea 2-2 at Stamford Bridge to go third in the Premier League as Liverpool failed to find a way past struggling Fulham in a 0-0 draw on Saturday. It was a familiar tale for Chelsea as the front three of Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer dazzled, but the Blues were undone by an inability to defend. In five games against top-flight opposition since Xabi Alonso took charge, Chelsea have scored 16 times and conceded 12. Hull were the last side in the Premier League to concede, but after three clean sheets they were finally breached when Rogers drilled in at the near post on seven minutes. Mohamed Belloumi took advantage of Chelsea’s slackness at the back to blast home on the volley after Jorrel Hato got caught under a cross to the back post.

The Algerian winger then put Hull in front with a deflected strike after Emi Martinez failed to deal with a corner. Pedro drilled a Palmer cross into the top corner to bring Chelsea level just after the hour mark. But the home side could not find a winner as Hull’s honeymoon back in the Premier League goes on with only defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City above them in the table. “We have to be happy,” said Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic. “It’s a huge result for us. ” – Fulham fight for Arbeloa – Liverpool remain unbeaten under Andoni Iraola but there were boos at Anfield after Fulham picked up their first point under Alvaro Arbeloa. Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa was reportedly fighting for his job after losing his first three league matches since arriving in west London from Real Madrid. Yet a Liverpool forward line featuring three £100 million ($135 million) players in Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak failed to click against the Cottagers’ leaky defence. “When you…