Cole Palmer's back, an electric Chelsea attack - but goalkeeper problem remains after opening Premier League win at Fulham
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers all score to give Chelsea 3-2 victory at Fulham; Palmer was outstanding but Robert Sanchez came in for criticism from Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who said it's "impossible" for Chelsea to win the title with Sanchez in goal
Monday 24 August 2026 23:49, UK
Cole Palmer looked like Cole Palmer again but Chelsea's progress this season will be hampered by sticking with Robert Sanchez in goal, argued Jamie Carragher.
Palmer was back to his best in the 3-2 win over Fulham, producing the kind of performance that reminded everyone why he has become one of the Premier League's most explosive players. There was swagger to his performance again - the confidence, invention and end product that made him such a phenomenon when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Palmer, when asked if he was ready to go this season, replied: "Did you not watch the game? I'm only joking, I'm ready. It was a difficult season with injuries and whatnot but through the summer and since I've been back I've worked extra hard.
"Obviously with the injuries I've had to try and prevent them and work extra hard day in, day out. I know the talent I've got so I can put in performances like that.
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"Normally I'm not an emotional person, the people who know me know I'm not usually bothered about things in life, but over the summer I rested, I recharged and yeah I'm ready and I'm hungry."
Palmer was controversially left out of England's World Cup squad this summer by Thomas Tuchel and Sky Sports' Gary Neville thinks that snub could be a big blessing in disguise.
Neville said: "Look, maybe it's the best thing that's ever happened to Cole Palmer, because maybe his career is just drifting a little bit and he gets a massive kick up the backside. Sometimes my dad used to say to me, you need to kick up the backside and a reminder in life that you've got to basically retain that hunger every single minute of every single day.
"A point midway through my career, where I dropped off for about a year and a half and all of a sudden, you just get a reality check and you realise things don't come easy, and you've got to maintain that standard.
"That tonight was the old Cole Palmer, that we were used to seeing complete years ago, a year or so ago. And he is unbelievable to watch. That is the best performance I've seen all weekend. It makes you smile every time you watch someone like that, and he's a brilliant player."
It took only 31 seconds for Joao Pedro's goal to bring the visitors' new era to life under Xabi Alonso - it was an attacking display that was scintillating at times with new signing Morgan Rogers dovetailing beautifully with his great mate Palmer.
Carragher said: "There were things to really like. On paper, that front three is sensational. It really is. It looked it in the game. I think Joao Pedro is fantastic. Rogers' first game, what a start. But when you think of him, Palmer and Pedro - that's as good as anything in the Premier League right now.
Neville added: "The attacking play, Palmer sensational. If you talk about Palmer getting back to his best you've got a £120m-£125m player there. Rogers getting a goal. Those two being electric with Joao Pedro up front. The front three were brilliant tonight. One of the best things I've seen this weekend."
'Impossible to win Premier League with Sanchez in goal'
While one major question appeared to have been answered in terms of Chelsea's play going forward, another was immediately raised.
Carragher believes Chelsea cannot win the Premier League with Sanchez as their goalkeeper. Sanchez again produced moments for Fulham's two goals that make you question whether he can be trusted at the very highest level.
Can they challenge Arsenal if there remains uncertainty behind the defence? Carragher is adamant they can't.
He said: "Chelsea will never win the league with Sanchez in goal. Impossible.
"And you'd think of the teams who've won the title. Last three teams who won the title have all changed the goalkeeper. Pep Guardiola bringing in Ederson. Alisson comes in for Liverpool. Arsenal don't win the league if they have Aaron Ramsdale in goal, not David Raya. Impossible.
"So, one of the biggest reasons why Arsenal won the league, actually, was Raya, they wouldn't have won the league without them. You can go back to history."
Neville agreed, saying Chelsea need a new goalkeeper if they are to challenge: "Alonso's been brought in as the manager of the football club, not as the coach. And when you're managing a football club, and I know from the manager that I played under, you have to make some pretty brutal and ruthless decisions. They're strengthening every single position, in the forward areas, they brought brilliant players in, experience in midfield, they've got defenders that have come in.
"You cannot take a chance with goalkeeper. I said before, it's the most difficult position on the pitch. It's the one that carries the most scrutiny. It's the one that if you have got a goalkeeper that's making mistakes and he's anxious, it will undermine everything that you're trying to do.
"And I think in the next seven or eight days, Alonso may have to just make a decision that he needs to bring in an experienced goalkeeper, because his job is to be successful for Chelsea.
"It may be that he sticks with Robert Sanchez, but I think he has to protect himself. "
