Palmer Purrs, Sánchez Shaky: Chelsea Open the Alonso Era with a 3-2 Win at Fulham
Chelsea's 2026-27 season began with a 3-2 win away to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday 24 August — and the opening night of the Xabi Alonso era delivered everything you want from a Premier League curtain-raiser: goals, chaos, and a goalkeeper scare to keep everyone honest.
Cole Palmer needed just 32 seconds to introduce himself to the new campaign, flicking a pass that set Chelsea's first attack in motion at a packed Craven Cottage. Palmer went on to score, and he was not alone. João Pedro and Morgan Rogers also found the net for the visitors, giving Alonso three goals and three different scorers on his competitive debut — the kind of spread that suggests the attacking pieces are already clicking into place. Sky Sports described Palmer's performance as outstanding.
Fulham refused to fold. Josh King pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute to level the match at 1-1, and the home side pushed Chelsea all the way through a second half that never quite settled. Fulham's own website confirmed the 3-2 defeat in their post-match press conference coverage. For a club that has historically struggled in this fixture — Chelsea have now won 53, drawn 27 and lost just 12 of 92 all-competition meetings, dating back to a 4-0 thrashing in 1925-26 — there was at least pride in the fight.
Alonso, appointed over the summer, called it "a very professional, solid performance with maturity" on Chelsea's official website. Those are deliberate words from a manager who built his reputation on control rather than spectacle. The scoreline may have been loose, but the verdict from the dugout was neat and tidy.
What stands out is the goalkeeper situation. Robert Sánchez started between the posts for Chelsea, and Sky Sports reported that a "goalkeeper problem remains" despite the win. In plain terms: Chelsea scored three and still left the door ajar at the back. Sánchez has the talent — he has shown that across multiple seasons — but moments of uncertainty in a 3-2 win will give Alonso and his staff something to chew on before the next fixture.
For Chelsea fans, the positives are obvious. Palmer looks sharp. The new signings are contributing immediately. Alonso's attacking setup produced three goals on the road in a fixture that has historically favoured the blue side of west London. The pre-season signs were there too — Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in a friendly on 15 August — and that form has carried into the competitive calendar.
For Fulham, there is encouragement in the scrap. Two goals against a side they have rarely beaten, at home, on opening night. The gap between these two clubs across 92 meetings is steep, but King's equaliser and the late push gave the Craven Cottage crowd something to hold onto.
The Guardian's Football Weekly panel — Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Jacob Steinberg and George Elek — gathered on Tuesday to pick through the action, and the title of their video episode captured the night in seven words: Palmer purrs but Sánchez shaky as Chelsea start with a win.
That is the story of opening night. The attack sings. The defence hums a slightly different tune. Alonso's Chelsea are up and running.
