SPORTS DIGEST: 6-12 JANUARY 2026
FOOTBALL
Rosenior’s Chelsea era begins with derby loss to Fulham
Premier League – Wednesday, January 7
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea (Craven Cottage)
Chelsea’s new manager, Liam Rosenior, got off to a rough start – watching from the stands at Craven Cottage as Marc Cucurella’s 22nd-minute red card condemned the Blues to their seventh dismissal of the season.
Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez capitalised on the numerical advantage ten minutes into the second half before Harry Wilson’s 81st-minute strike sealed Fulham’s west London derby triumph despite Liam Delap’s brief equaliser.
The defeat marked Chelsea’s third time this season going down to ten in the opening period, a chronic discipline problem Rosenior inherits alongside Enzo Maresca’s Instagram tribute to his “legacy.”
FA Cup Third Round – Saturday, January 10
Charlton 1-5 Chelsea (The Valley)
Rosenior’s first official match as boss however brought a convincing FA Cup passage as Chelsea thrashed Charlton.
Jorrel Hato’s stoppage-time volley broke the deadlock before Tosin Adarabioyo doubled the lead five minutes after the restart. Miles Leaburn’s response briefly threatened an upset, but Marc Guiu restored the two-goal cushion and Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández penalties completed the rout.
The comprehensive victory offered Rosenior a glimpse of squad depth ahead of sterner challenges, though tougher tests await with an EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal looming.
Fulham 3-1 Middlesbrough (Craven Cottage)
Marco Silva watched from the stands serving a touchline ban as Fulham overturned Hayden Hackney’s 30th-minute opener with a clinical second-half display.
Sub Harry Wilson struck the equaliser on the hour before Emile Smith Rowe put the Cottagers ahead with 13 minutes remaining. Kevin added gloss in stoppage time – and gave him his first goal for the team – to seal Fulham’s sixth consecutive match without defeat and progression to the fourth round.
Women’s Super League – Sunday, January 11
Chelsea Women 5-0 West Ham United (Kingsmeadow)
Chelsea Women opened 2026 with ruthless precision, scoring inside 60 seconds through a Yu Endo own goal before Lauren James, Alyssa Thompson and Sandy Baltimore twice turned the fixture into a procession. The five-goal margin maintained Sonia Bompastor’s side within six points of Manchester City at the WSL summit.
West Ham’s struggles under new manager Rita Guarino intensified, the Hammers managing just one effort on goal while Baltimore’s curling finish and penalty exemplified Chelsea’s attacking prowess. The Blues’ dominance in front of goal continues with 20 scored in their final four 2025 fixtures now augmented by five more to start the new year.
FA Women’s National League Division One South-East – Sunday, January 5
Fulham Women 5-0 Actonians (Motspur Park)
Captain Jade Bradley’s powered league leaders Fulham Women to an emphatic return from the Christmas break, extending their unbeaten run to twelve matches. Bradley opened the scoring from a corner in the eleventh minute before Stella Gandee Morgan headed home a rebound five minutes later.
The skipper’s long-range stunner into the top corner made it three before Ellie Olds finished a sweeping transition move set up by Lily Stevens. Naomi Bradley completed the rout with a late header as Fulham dominated throughout against overwhelmed visitors. The Whites maintained their four-point cushion at the top of the division, three promotions away from the WSL where Chelsea Women reign as champions.
RUGBY UNION
Harlequins Book Last 16 Berth with Dominant Display
Investec Champions Cup – Sunday, January 11
Harlequins 61-10 Stormers (Twickenham Stoop)
Nick David’s hat-trick inspired Harlequins to a nine-try demolition of the previously unbeaten Stormers, securing a last-16 berth with a round to spare. Jack Kenningham, Cadan Murley, Alex Dombrandt, Chandler Cunningham-South, David three times, Zach Carr and Jarrod Evans all crossed as the home side raced to a 33-0 half-time lead before eventually prevailing 61-10.
Marcus Smith converted eight attempts as Jason Gilmore’s side ended their poor run of form against a much-changed Stormers outfit resting key Springboks. Kenningham earned his first Player of the Match award in 84 appearances after an all-action display that set the tone for complete dominance. Quins now sit second in Pool 3 and will seal a home knockout tie with a bonus-point win against La Rochelle next Sunday.
LEAGUE TABLES
LEAGUE TABLES
As of Sunday, January 12, 2026
Premier League
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 21 | 15 | +26 | 49 |
| 2 | Man City | 21 | 13 | +26 | 43 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 21 | 13 | +9 | 43 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 8 | Chelsea | 21 | 8 | +10 | 31 |
| 9 | Fulham | 21 | 9 | 0 | 31 |
Women’s Super League
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 12 | 11 | +24 | 33 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 12 | 8 | +18 | 27 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 6 | +13 | 23 |
FA Women’s National League Division One South-East
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fulham | 12 | 11 | +31 | 34 |
| 2 | Norwich City | 11 | 10 | +27 | 30 |
| 3 | London Bees | 11 | 8 | +18 | 24 |
Premiership Rugby
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath | 10 | 8 | +98 | 41 |
| 2 | Saracens | 10 | 7 | +51 | 35 |
| 3 | Bristol | 10 | 7 | +46 | 33 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 7 | Harlequins | 10 | 4 | -32 | 18 |
FA CUP FOURTH ROUND DRAW
The draw for the fourth round takes place Monday, January 12 following the Liverpool vs Barnsley third-round tie. Both Chelsea and Fulham will discover their opponents, with ties scheduled for the weekend of January 24-25.
STORY OF THE WEEK
Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea baptism began with contrasting emotions – watching helplessly as another red card doomed the Blues at Craven Cottage before his charges dismantled Charlton in his official debut. Yet the 61-10 Champions Cup demolition at the Twickenham Stoop provided the week’s most emphatic statement, Harlequins ending their poor form with nine tries to book a last-16 berth.
As the FA Cup fourth-round draw looms Monday, both Fulham and Chelsea men await their fate, while the women’s game offered its own compelling narratives: Chelsea Women’s five-goal opening to 2026 maintains WSL title pressure, and Fulham Women’s unbeaten charge at Tier 4 showcases the gulf and ambition between west London’s contrasting women’s programmes.
