Chelsea's new-look front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro scored in a 3-2 win over Fulham, though goalkeeper Robert Sanchez faced criticism for two errors.
Key facts
- •Morgan Rogers became the first Chelsea player to score on his Premier League debut since Christopher Nkunku in 2023.
- •Cole Palmer is now two goals away from reaching 50 in the Premier League.
- •Josh King's 23rd-minute goal had an expected goals on target value of 0.05, the lowest-rated shot to result in a goal during the opening weekend.
- •Chelsea's number two goalkeeper is 21-year-old Mike Penders, who recently returned from a loan at Strasbourg.
- •Morgan Rogers created five chances during the match, the most for a Chelsea player in their first league appearance since 2003-04.
Xabi Alonso began his tenure as Chelsea manager with a 3-2 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday. The win was driven by an attacking performance from Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro, all of whom scored. Despite the offensive success, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was criticized for two errors that led to goals from Fulham's Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia.
By the numbers
Attacking trio shines on debut
Joao Pedro opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the match, marking Chelsea's fastest goal since October 2016. Morgan Rogers, making his debut following a £117m transfer from Aston Villa, scored before halftime, while Cole Palmer added the third goal. Former players Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville praised the trio's performance, with Carragher describing them as being as good as any attacking unit in the Premier League.
Goalkeeping concerns persist
Robert Sanchez faced scrutiny after allowing a low strike from Josh King to pass through him and later parrying a shot into a dangerous area, leading to a goal by Gonzalo Garcia. Gary Neville noted that Sanchez's mistakes could undermine the team's progress, while Jamie Carragher suggested the club must address the goalkeeping position. Alonso emphasized a collective responsibility for the team's performance and stated that the goalkeepers must prove themselves on the pitch.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Sport.
