Fulham 2-3 Chelsea: Cole Palmer stars as Blues' superb front three edge pulsating contest in Xabi Alonso's first game
Report and free match highlights as Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers all score to give Chelsea 3-2 victory at Fulham in Xabi Alonso's first game in charge; Alvaro Arbeloa's side punished for defensive lapses but Josh King and Goncalo Garcia take advantage of Robert Sanchez errors
Monday 24 August 2026 22:49, UK
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 among the most potent in the Premier League as all three scored to earn Alonso a deserved win in a game where entertainment reigned and defending was an afterthought.".
Palmer, finally injury-free and all the better for a summer away from England's World Cup campaign, scored one and made another in the kind of performance which he had found so difficult to produce 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 to kick off his season by teeing up an opener for Joao Pedro - himself refreshed after his surprise Brazil omission. The front three never looking back from there.
- As it happened | Teams | Stats | Watch FREE PL highlights
- Latest news and rumours: Fulham | Chelsea
- Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱
- Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream Premier League games with no contract📺
Rogers got in on the act on debut with a late run to meet Maxence Lacroix's cross just before half-time, before his flick-on released Joao Pedro to tee up Palmer for a third shortly after the break.
Chelsea would have had an easier night despite the surprise injury absence of Moises Caicedo without a nightmare evening for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose mistakes twice let Fulham back into the game.
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 score plenty too - and could have snatched an equaliser when Antonee Robinson horribly miscued a chip with Sanchez in no man's land. But it would have been harsh on Chelsea, who ran out deserved winners thanks to their electric front three.
The key moments from Craven Cottage
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, in response to holding up a sign about the Maldives following Argentina's win over 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.
