Xabi Alonso praised Chelsea’s new-look forward line after Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scored in a 3-2 Premier League opening-day win at Fulham on Monday.
The result gave Alonso a winning start to his time in charge of Chelsea, while the visitors’ attacking trio provided the decisive moments in an entertaining London derby.
Joao Pedro put Chelsea ahead after only 31 seconds, the club’s fastest Premier League goal since Pedro scored after 30 seconds against Manchester United in October 2016. Fulham responded in the 23rd minute when Josh King’s effort squeezed beyond Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea regained the advantage four minutes before half-time. Rogers marked his debut for the club with a goal after excellent work from another summer arrival, Maxence Lacroix.
The three forwards then combined for Chelsea’s third shortly after the interval. Rogers flicked the ball into Joao Pedro’s path, and the former held it up before setting up Palmer, who finished beneath Bernd Leno in the 49th minute.
Gonzalo Garcia pulled one back for Fulham in the 54th minute, but his goal proved only a consolation as Chelsea held on for victory.
Chelsea began a Premier League campaign with a win for the first time since 2022-23. Alonso also became the first Chelsea manager to oversee three goals in his first top-flight match since Maurizio Sarri in August 2018.
“It is a great combination and great quality. We know that if we put them in a good position, then they have this talent to create special things,” Alonso told Sky Sports.
“Today I am happy that today all three scored. I really enjoyed his [Palmer] performance. He played with responsibility and maturity, but also freedom.
“It is really important to me that we get the best out of Cole. I am happy for him and if we are going to have a good team, then we need a great Cole.”
Despite Chelsea’s attacking threat, Fulham remained dangerous on the counter-attack under Alvaro Arbeloa. Fulham registered an expected goals total of 1.34 from 14 attempts, compared with Chelsea’s 1.70 from 18 shots.
“The early goal helped to gain confidence. I think we had a few chances to score the second one before their equaliser, but we were quite stable,” said Alonso.
“We were quite comfortable even without the ball and were a threat.
“The three strikers were combining well and creating chances and, at the end, to know that to win games away you need to roll your sleeves up and fight and defend your goal.
“It’s something we need to do for the future as well, and it’s a good first day for us.”
Palmer, who missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup, was one of Chelsea’s most influential players.
His pass for Joao Pedro’s opener matched the total of assists he recorded throughout the whole of the 2025-26 Premier League season, when he supplied one in 1,965 minutes. Palmer then scored himself in the second half.
Since making his Premier League debut for Chelsea in September 2023, only Mohamed Salah, with 15, and Ollie Watkins, with 10, have both scored and assisted in more matches than Palmer, who has done so in nine games.
Asked how prepared he was for the new campaign, Palmer said: “Did you not watch the game? I’m only joking, I’m ready, you know.”
“It was a difficult season with injuries and whatnot, but throughout 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.
“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.”
Rogers also highlighted Palmer’s contribution after becoming the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Chelsea since Christopher Nkunku against Wolves in December 2023.
Rogers had three shots and created four chances in the first half, making him the first Chelsea player on record since 2003-04 to reach at least three in both categories during his debut for the club.
“Everyone knows how good he is,” Rogers said of Palmer.
“Obviously, he had a difficult season with injuries and stuff last year, and you could see in his eyes in pre-season and training that he’s ready to prove people wrong.
“You saw that with that performance – the best player on the pitch by a mile and that’s what he does. It’s good to have him on our side.”
