A Quick Start

In a Premier League clash on Monday evening, Chelsea edged Fulham 3-2 at Selhurst Park. João Pedro opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the match, a swift strike that set the tone for a game that would see all three of Alonso’s front-three players find the net.

Front Three Flourish

Alonso, in his first competitive match in charge, unleashed a new-look front three that paid dividends early on. After Pedro’s opener, Fulham’s Josh King equalised, capitalising on a lapse from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. However, Morgan Rogers, on his Chelsea debut following a £117 million ($159.5 million) move from Aston Villa, headed the ball past Sánchez to give the Blues a 2-1 lead before the break.

Pedro then set up Cole Palmer for a third goal, a swift partnership that left the Fulham defence reeling. Gonzalo García, on his Fulham debut, slotted in a late consolation to make the final score 3-2.

Alonso praised the trio’s performance, saying: “They are going to be a very important part of the team. To build a team with them, they need to take responsibility, and lead the rest, inspire the rest, if they do great, then others will follow.” He added that the players “play for the team, they score and it’s important.”

Defensive Woes

While the attack was in fine form, defensive concerns lingered. Sánchez was blamed for King’s equaliser and also for deflecting a Timothy Castagne shot that allowed García to score. Alonso chose not to criticise the goalkeeper, instead focusing on learning from the errors: “We talk about the team… We want to do better in everything.”

Bench Highlights

Enzo Fernández was named on the bench amid doubts over his future. He was welcomed by the crowd when brought on in the second half, a moment that Alonso described as “not a big deal” but “felt great in this stadium with our fans.”

Palmer, who missed the 2025-26 campaign due to injuries, and Pedro, who was left out of Brazil’s squad, both missed out on the World Cup. Rogers, meanwhile, praised Palmer’s resilience, calling him “ready to prove people wrong.”

The match ended with Chelsea’s new front three proving their worth, setting a positive tone for Alonso’s reign, while defensive lapses highlighted areas for improvement as the season progresses.