Chelsea beat Fulham 3-2 as Alonso wins Premier League debut

Xabi Alonso began his Chelsea reign with a 3-2 victory over Fulham in a dramatic west London derby, with new signing Morgan Rogers scoring on his debut and Cole Palmer also finding the net.

Chelsea survived a tense finish at Craven Cottage to give Alonso three points in his first Premier League match as head coach, offering an early glimpse of the attacking identity the former Real Madrid manager wants to establish.

The victory also provided a much-needed positive start for Chelsea after their disappointing 10th-place finish last season.

Pedro gives Chelsea dream start

Chelsea needed just 31 seconds to take the lead. João Pedro timed his run perfectly after Levi Colwill's header reached Palmer, with the England international producing a clever flick into the Brazilian's path. Pedro kept his composure to lift the ball beyond Bernd Leno.

The early advantage, however, did not last. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez gifted Fulham an equaliser in the 23rd minute when he failed to deal with Josh King's effort, allowing the ball to squirm into the net.

It was an early warning for Alonso, whose attacking 3-4-3 system left Chelsea vulnerable to transitions.

Rogers announces himself with Chelsea debut goal

Chelsea restored their lead shortly before half-time through Morgan Rogers, who marked his competitive debut with a goal following his British-record £117 million move from Aston Villa.

Palmer was again involved, turning away from pressure before finding debutant defender Maxence Lacroix. Lacroix drove forward before delivering a low cross into the area, where Rogers arrived to finish from close range.

The 23-year-old celebrated with Palmer's trademark "ice-cold" gesture, highlighting the friendship between the two England internationals.

Rogers' performance was one of the biggest positives from Alonso's opening night. Operating from the left side of Chelsea's front three, he combined effectively with Palmer and Pedro throughout the match.

Palmer extends Chelsea's advantage

Chelsea's attacking trio continued to cause problems after the interval. Just four minutes into the second half, Cole Palmer made it 3-1. Pedro held up possession during the build-up before Palmer burst into the Fulham penalty area and fired a low finish beyond Leno from a difficult angle.

For a player who endured a frustrating previous campaign and missed out on England's World Cup squad, the goal was an encouraging start to a season in which Chelsea will hope he can rediscover his best form.

Keeping Palmer and Rogers healthy and productive could prove particularly important if Chelsea are to mount a challenge for Champions League qualification.

Sánchez errors give Fulham hope

Chelsea's defensive problems returned almost immediately. In the 54th minute, Sánchez could only parry Timothy Castagne's effort into a dangerous area, allowing Gonzalo García to react first and head Fulham's second goal on his debut.

That set up a nervy final half-hour.

Fulham pushed for an equaliser, with King sending a powerful long-range effort narrowly wide before Antonee Robinson also came close with a lob. Chelsea ultimately held on to secure Alonso's first competitive victory in charge.

Alonso gets early win, but defensive concerns remain

The result gives Alonso an encouraging foundation, but the performance also highlighted areas requiring attention.

Chelsea's attacking football was energetic and purposeful, with Pedro, Palmer and Rogers offering plenty of movement and creativity. The Blues also demonstrated their ability to recover after Fulham twice threatened to drag them back into the contest.

However, Sánchez's two errors will raise questions about Chelsea's goalkeeping position, while the openness of Alonso's 3-4-3 system could create problems against stronger opposition.

The new manager nevertheless leaves Craven Cottage with the most important thing: three points and a winning start.

The occasion also marked a reunion between Alonso and Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa. The pair were teammates at both Real Madrid and Liverpool and also represented Spain together.

Ironically, Arbeloa was promoted from Real Madrid's B team to replace Alonso at the Spanish club after Alonso's dismissal earlier in the year.

For Chelsea, though, the focus now turns to whether Alonso can build on this opening victory and transform a team that finished 10th last season into a genuine contender for European qualification.

SportsLigue