Fulham 2-3 Chelsea: Cole Palmer stars as Blues' superb front three edge pulsating contest in Xabi Alonso's first game

25.08.2026, 02:25 skysports.com

Cole Palmer was back to his best to get Xabi Alonso's Chelsea career off to a winning start in a chaotic 3-2 victory at Fulham on Monday Night Football.

The Blues' attacking trio of Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers looked every bit the most potent in the Premier League as all three scored in a game where entertainment reigned and defending was an afterthought.

Palmer, finally injury-free and all the better for a summer off from England's World Cup campaign, scored one and made another in the kind of performance he had found so difficult to reproduce last season.

If his confidence on the pitch was not evidence enough, his response when Sky Sports asked how ready he was for the new season was emphatic. "Did you not watch the game?"

It took just 31 seconds for him to lay down a marker by teeing up an opener for Joao Pedro - himself refreshed after his surprise Brazil omission. The front three never looked back from there.

Rogers got in on the act on debut with a late run to finish Maxence Lacroix's cross just before half-time, before his flick-on released Joao Pedro to set up Palmer for a third shortly after the break.

Chelsea would have had an easier night despite the surprise absence of Moises Caicedo without a nightmare performance from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose mistakes twice let Fulham back into the game.

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The Spaniard, whose position as the Blues' No 1 has long been questioned, let Josh King's powerful but saveable drive in at his near post to level matters midway through the opening period before spilling a shot straight into the path of Goncalo Garcia to allow Fulham to make it 3-2.

The first taste of the Alvaro Arbeloa era suggested the Cottagers will play on the front foot regardless of opposition and they created plenty against their west London rivals - but will need to significantly improve their defensive discipline after being cut wide open for each of Chelsea's goals.

On this evidence they will have score plenty too - and could have snatched a late equaliser when Antonee Robinson horribly miscued a chip with Sanchez in no man's land. But anything less than an away victory would have been harsh on Chelsea, who ran out deserved winners thanks to their electric front three.

Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Sky Sports:

"It's a new project. Time is something we coaches don't have. But if we continue to play in that way, we're going to win a lot of games.

"I'm really happy and proud of my players, what I saw from them. This is the way I want to play. And we're going to play [this way] no matter who is in front of us."

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso on Sky Sports:

"It's not about talking about individuals, their situations. It's about understanding what it takes.

"For sure, the first goal we can do better than that. But it's a process. It's day one. And normally it's easier to learn with three points."

1: GOAL! Lacroix's header from his own half splits Fulham's midfield before Palmer finds Joao Pedro to open the scoring after just 31 seconds.

23: GOAL! King's powerful drive goes through Sanchez at his near post to level for the hosts.

41: GOAL! Rogers' late run to the back post is found by Lacroix's cross and finished off by the record signing, who is left totally unmarked.

49: GOAL! Calvin Bassey needlessly pushes up and is beaten by Rogers to a flick-on towards Joao Pedro, who tees up Palmer to add a third.

54: GOAL! Goncalo Garcia nets his own debut goal as Sanchez pushes Castagne's effort straight at the summer signing.

65: BOO! Enzo Fernandez is met by huge jeers as he replaces Romeo Lavia after his antics for Argentina against England at the World Cup.

78: BIG CHANCE! With Sanchez off his line, Robinson's attempted chip lands well wide in a huge change to equalise.

82: INJURY? Shortly after telling the bench he needs to come off and pulling up mid-dribble, Palmer is replaced by Estevao.

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