Palmer shines in West London derby as Chelsea begin Alonso era with win over Fulham

Chelsea have started the new Premier League season with a win, beating Fulham 3-2 in a spectacular West London derby.

Cole Palmer was one of the “Blues’” key players, while Xabi Alonso triumphed in his Premier League debut as Chelsea manager, getting the better of his former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa.

Alonso became only the third of Chelsea’s last nine managers to win his first Premier League match.

Chelsea score after just 31 seconds

The match got off to a lightning-fast start for the visitors.

After just 31 seconds, Levi Colwill sent the ball back toward Fulham’s area, Palmer set up João Pedro, and the Brazilian coolly chipped the ball over Bernd Leno to make it 1-0.

This was the fastest goal ever scored by a team in its opening match of a Premier League season.

Palmer, meanwhile, equalled in the very first match the number of assists he had recorded throughout the entire 2025/26 season.

Fulham respond through King

Despite their early lead, Chelsea looked uncertain in defence, particularly with Robert Sánchez in goal.

Fulham capitalised in the 23rd minute, when Josh King struck powerfully and the ball went in at the near post to make it 1-1.

The hosts took greater control after the equaliser, and Gonzalo García came very close to scoring on his debut, but Josh Acheampong intervened at the last moment.

Chelsea responded thereafter. João Pedro shot narrowly wide, while Leno made a superb close-range save against Roméo Lavia.

Morgan Rogers scores on his debut

Four minutes before the end of the first half, Chelsea regained the lead.

The two summer signings combined beautifully, with Maxence Lacroix sending the ball back into the area for Morgan Rogers.

The £117 million signing hit a low shot and found the net to make it 2-1, scoring on his Premier League debut for Chelsea.

Palmer makes it 3-1

Chelsea also made a strong start to the second half.

In the 49th minute, João Pedro sent Palmer in behind Fulham’s defence and the Englishman kept his cool, putting the ball through Leno’s legs to make it 3-1.

It was another early goal for Palmer, as ten of his last 11 goals for Chelsea have come before the 60th minute.

García gets Fulham back in the game

Fulham needed just five minutes to reduce the deficit.

Sánchez failed to hold Timothy Castagne’s shot and the ball fell to Gonzalo García, who headed home, with the ball hitting the crossbar before going into the net.

It was García’s seventh career league goal and, interestingly, all of them have come in matches played at home.

Fulham chase an equaliser until the end

The hosts continued to attack.

Josh King came close to scoring his second goal 18 minutes from time, but his low shot went wide.

Antonee Robinson also tried to chip Sánchez, but the ball went just wide of the goal.

Fulham failed to find a third goal and thus suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in a London derby on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

A perfect start for Xabi Alonso

João Pedro managed to score once more in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

This made no difference to the final score.

Chelsea won 3-2, recording their first win in a Premier League season opener since 2022.

For the “Blues”, it was also their seventh win in their last nine visits to “Craven Cottage”, while Xabi Alonso could hardly have wished for a better debut in English football’s top flight.