Cole Palmer described playing alongside his friend Morgan Rogers as “something unreal” after both England midfielders scored in Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Fulham on the opening matchday.
Palmer and Rogers were on target for Chelsea, while Palmer also supplied the assist for Joao Pedro as the Blues claimed three points in an entertaining first-round fixture.
The match offered an immediate glimpse of the relationship between two attacking midfielders who have followed similar paths in the game. Both players are English, both began their careers at Manchester City and they are now team-mates at Chelsea.
Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last month in a deal worth 138m euros. His arrival brought him together at club level with Palmer, who moved to Chelsea in 2023.
Their shared history at Manchester City adds another layer to their new partnership, but the pair made their influence felt straight away against Fulham. Each scored once, with Palmer also contributing to Joao Pedro’s goal in a five-goal contest.
For Palmer, the opportunity to play alongside a long-standing friend appears to have made an immediate impression. His description of the experience as “something unreal” underlined the excitement surrounding their combination in Chelsea’s attack.
The result also gave Chelsea a winning start to their Premier League campaign, although Fulham’s two goals ensured the visitors were tested throughout the match. Chelsea eventually held on to secure a 3-2 victory.
Rogers’ move from Aston Villa means his first month at Chelsea has already been marked by a goal in his new side’s opening league match. Palmer, meanwhile, continued his role as one of Chelsea’s key attacking players by both scoring and creating a goal.
The two midfielders’ performances were the clearest individual feature of Chelsea’s win, with their goals and Palmer’s assist directly accounting for all three of the club’s strikes.
Their connection is now set to become one of the notable attacking partnerships at Chelsea. Both players know each other from their early development at Manchester City, and both were able to make decisive contributions in their first Premier League appearance together for the club.
Chelsea’s 3-2 success over Fulham therefore provided more than an opening-day victory. It also highlighted the immediate impact of adding Rogers to a squad that already includes Palmer, while giving the former Manchester City players a memorable start as team-mates.
