Xabi Alonso got his Premier League managerial career off to a winning start as Chelsea overcame local rivals Fulham in a five-goal thriller.
Chelsea snatched a lead in just 31 seconds as Joao Pedro was slipped in behind by Cole Palmer, with the Brazilian deftly dinking Bernd Leno to kickstart the Alonso era in dream fashion.
A bright start from the Blues was cancelled out in preventable fashion when Robert Sanchez was bafflingly beaten at his near post by Josh King, flipping the game on its head as Arbeloa’s men began to push.
But Chelsea would retake control through an unlikely source, centre-back Maxence Lacroix sending his man in the opposition box before pulling it back to fellow new boy Morgan Rogers to simply slot home for a debut goal.
Palmer slotted through Bernd Leno’s legs to give the Blues daylight after the break, and while another Sanchez would give Gonzalo Garcia a gift and Fulham a way back into the contest, Alonso’s men were able to hold onto victory.
Here’s how the players rated at Craven Cottage:
Robert Sanchez – 4
Looked his notoriously unreliable self after being pressed by Garcia, forgetting to kick the ball and conceding a completely needless goal kick. That was the lesser of his sins on this night. After producing a dodgy stop to deny King from range, he bafflingly let in the youngster’s next effort at his near post. Then parried Castagne’s shot straight back into the danger area for Garcia to peg one back. A late save to deny Sessegnon an equaliser spares him a low score.
Josh Acheampong – 7
Hit and miss with his personal duels at right centre-back. sometimes struggling to contend with the overload of Robinson and Palacios, but produced a huge block to deny Garcia with the score at 1-1.
Maxence Lacroix – 8
The most assured of Chelsea’s back three in defence, and turned surprisingly good going forward when Chelsea needed to turn the tide. He looked like a playmaker when he sent his man, pulled one back from the byline and gave fellow new boy Rogers a pretty simple finish for a debut goal.
Levi Colwill – 5
Started well by heading the ball back down the pitch during the first few seconds to spark Chelsea’s opener. Was then booked within five minutes, and stepped out to allow King to slip into the box and fire past Sanchez. Hardly the biggest to blame in blue for the equaliser – but was more of a guilty party for Fulham’s second, completely misjudging the flight of the ball as it hit him and fell to Castagne, whose shot brought about the goal.
Malo Gusto – 6
An unremarkable performance from right-wing back, with James often the man to link defence to attack on the right. Subbed.
Reece James – 7
Mopped up possession in the middle of the park, the more composed of Chelsea’s injury-prone midfield duo, often moving the team forward and confident when dropping back into defence. Booked.
Romeo Lavia – 5
Desperation to prevent a corner nearly backfired dramatically as he pelted it into Lacroix, who after inevitably failing to control it was dispossessed in his own box, gifting Fulham their best chance of the opening stages. Another to be booked early on. Subbed.
Jorrel Hato – 7
Really bright from the left, especially going forward. Partial to a surging run towards the Fulham box, one of which would have in an assist and a fourth for Chelsea if not for some last-ditch defending. A bit more shaky on occasion defensively, but still decent. Subbed.
Cole Palmer – 9
Unlike his Fulham counterpart, switched on in the opening seconds to guide a loose ball through to Joao Pedro to finish. Not afraid to drive at his man and test Leno, and nearly set up a second for the Brazilian before the break. Ever a threat, he got a deserved goal soon after the restart, slotting the ball through Leno’s legs. He looks a problem under Alonso. Subbed.
Joao Pedro – 8
Deftly finished the opener inside 40 seconds with a delightful dink of Leno to start the Alonso era in perfect fashion. Agonisingly wide with an acrobatic effort after Chelsea were pegged back. Turned provider to repay the favour to Palmer.
Morgan Rogers – 8
The third dangerman of what looks to be a scary front three that Alonso is nurturing. Showed glimpses of his £117m price tag before slotting in a debut goal, a relatively simple finish that was put on a plate for him by Lacroix. Subbed.
Substitutes:
Enzo Fernandez (Lavia, 65’) – 6: Absolutely hounded by Fulham fans on his arrival, and needed a shout from his captain to tune out the noise.
Pep Chavarria (Hato, 65’) – 7: Introduced fill in for Hato as an extra attacking out down the left, but dropped into a back four as Chelsea looked to hold on. Sound in both roles.
Pedro Neto (Gusto, 76’) – 6: A couple of decent moments but also a few careless, such as letting the ball run out of play for a Fulham throw near the Chelsea corner flag.
Geovany Quenda (Rogers, 83’) – 6: Helped see things out and would’ve played his part in a goal if he wasn’t offside, with his saved shot tucked in by Joao Pedro before being disallowed.
Estevao (Palmer, 83’) – 6: Lovely no-look ball out wide to Neto was an example of the Brazilian trying to influence in his limited time on the field.
Bernd Leno – 6
Couldn’t do much about the first two goals, but let the third slip through his legs. Produced a few routine stops to deny Palmer before that moment, though.
Timothy Castagne – 7
Played the pass that set King into the box and then forced Sanchez into the poorly-parried save that led to Fulham’s second. Influential down the right alongside Bobb. Booked.
Calvin Bassey – 6
In a difficult spot playing as a right centre-back as a left-footer, but looked the more solid of Fulham’s two centre-backs nonetheless. Booked for diving, though, so docked points.
Jorge Cuenca – 5
Really struggled to contend with Chelsea’s frantic front three, and then got beaten by his defensive counterpart in Lacroix for the visitors’ second. He did, however, force the issue with a long ball which led to Garcia’s goal, and could have had assist when launching a searching long through ball for Robinson to chase – the American was in, but botched his finish. Still, not enough to make up for defensive shakiness.
Antonee Robinson – 6
Caught well out of position for Chelsea’s early opener, but provided greater attacking impetus as Fulham ramped the pressure up on their local rivals. Set through by a long Cuenca ball but fluffed the chancer to equalise late on, putting wide. Subbed.
Alex Iwobi – 6
Played through far too often, especially in the early stages. Largely sound in possession, though.
Sander Berge – 5
Formed a pretty ineffective double pivot with Iwobi. Subbed.
Oscar Bobb – 6
Started quietly but grew in influence down the right as he linked up with goalscorer King. Worked well alongside Castagne, and no real surprise a lot of Fulham’s joy came from his flank. Subbed.
Josh King – 8
Flipped the game on its head after first forcing Sanchez into an unconvincing stop from range, before firing into the Spaniard’s near post to ensure he did pick the ball out of his net red-faced. Drilled just wide when Fulham were searching for another equaliser late on.
Cesar Palacios – 7
Found himself failing to cover for Robinson for Chelsea’s early opener as Fulham’s defence were left completely exposed. Grew in confidence from that early setback, though, and caused Acheampong a decent bit of trouble. Subbed to a strong ovation.
Gonzalo Garcia – 6
Always a willing runner and not scared to challenge Chelsea’s physically imposing defenders when Fulham were trying to get a foothold in the game, but his actual output was little to none – until Sanchez parried Castagne’s effort right onto his head. Right place, right time, but good reaction to convert under pressure from a blue body.
Substitutes:
Shea Charles (Bobb, 67’) – 6: Gets his Premier League debut but unable to change the game for his new club.
Ryan Sessegnon (Berge, 73’) – 6: Fashioned one of Fulham’s better late chances as he fired goalwards towards Sanchez’s near post – unlike King, no such luck.
Kevin (Palacios, 73’) – 6: A couple of tricky moments but nothing magical came off.
Rodrigo Muniz (Robinson, 81’) – 6: Struck one true from 35 yards with the last kick of the game to test Sanchez one more time, but straight down his throat.
