Chelsea began the new Premier League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, giving new manager Xabi Alonso the kind of Premier League start that immediately raises expectations around what his side could achieve this season.

The result was far from straightforward, however, because Chelsea surrendered their early advantage, survived periods of defensive uncertainty and were repeatedly tested by a Fulham side that refused to disappear from the contest. In the end, the visitors’ greater attacking quality proved decisive, with Cole Palmer producing a magnificent individual performance to inspire an opening day win that will give Alonso plenty to celebrate and several defensive issues to address.

Chelsea make perfect Premier League start

Chelsea could hardly have imagined a more spectacular beginning to their new manager’s reign, as Palmer needed only 31 seconds to influence the contest before his clever touch sent Joao Pedro through on goal, allowing the Brazilian forward to finish calmly and give the visitors an immediate advantage.

That lightning-fast opening was precisely the kind of attacking moment Alonso will have wanted to see from his team, particularly with Palmer, Pedro and Morgan Rogers forming an exciting attacking combination that could become one of the defining features of Chelsea’s campaign. The early goal also forced Fulham to abandon any cautious approach they may have considered, turning the match into an open contest in which both sides found opportunities to exploit spaces.

Fulham responded impressively, with teenage midfielder Josh King demonstrating remarkable composure to level the contest in the 23rd minute after Chelsea’s defensive organisation began to show signs of vulnerability. King’s fizzing effort beat Robert Sanchez at his near post, giving the hosts belief that they could turn Chelsea’s promising Premier League start into a frustrating afternoon.

Chelsea, however, regained control before half-time through Rogers, who marked his Premier League debut for the club with a goal after Maxence Lacroix supplied the cutback. The summer arrival showed excellent awareness to arrive in the right area and finish an attack that illustrated the quality Alonso now possesses across his forward and midfield options.

Palmer shines as Chelsea survive Fulham pressure

If Chelsea’s Premier League start was built on attacking quality, Palmer was undoubtedly the player who provided its most important foundation, because the England international was involved in two of the visitors’ three goals and repeatedly demonstrated the creativity and composure that have made him one of the division’s most dangerous attackers.

His first contribution came almost immediately, when his delicate flick created the opening for Pedro, while his second arrived after the interval when he produced a composed finish through Bernd Leno’s legs to restore Chelsea’s advantage. Palmer’s ability to influence matches from different positions gives Alonso considerable tactical flexibility, particularly as the manager attempts to establish his own identity at Stamford Bridge.

The goal also demonstrated why Chelsea will place so much responsibility on Palmer during the campaign, as the 24-year-old found the space required to threaten Fulham’s defence before keeping his composure when the decisive moment arrived.

Yet the Premier League start was not without danger for Alonso, because Fulham continued to attack aggressively and eventually reduced the deficit through Gonzalo Garcia, who headed home from close range in the 54th minute. The former Real Madrid player, who joined Fulham during the summer, gave the hosts renewed belief and ensured the final stages became considerably more uncomfortable for Chelsea.

Fulham’s pressure exposed some of the same defensive concerns that had appeared earlier in the match, particularly around Sanchez, whose distribution created unnecessary problems before his positioning contributed to King’s equaliser. Alonso will therefore understand that the victory cannot completely disguise the defensive work still required if Chelsea are to challenge consistently near the top of the Premier League.

Alonso gets his opening day win, but work remains

Despite those concerns, Chelsea held on to secure an opening day win that had eluded them in their previous Premier League campaign, and the significance of that achievement should not be underestimated as Alonso begins his first season in English football.

The victory also represented Chelsea’s first win in their opening league match since the 2022-23 campaign, meaning the Premier League start carries an added psychological value for a club that has endured considerable instability in recent seasons. Alonso has inherited an expensive and talented squad, but his immediate challenge is to transform that collection of individual quality into a team capable of performing consistently.

There were encouraging signs at Craven Cottage, particularly in the attacking movement and positional interchanges that appeared throughout the match. The connection between Palmer and Pedro was especially promising, while Rogers demonstrated that his arrival could add another important dimension to Chelsea’s attack.

At the same time, Fulham deserve credit for refusing to allow Chelsea’s early advantage to dictate the match, with King’s performance standing out despite the eventual defeat. Their second goal showed that Chelsea’s defensive structure can still be exploited, and Alonso will know that stronger opponents are unlikely to be as forgiving when opportunities are presented.

For now, however, the Chelsea manager can focus on the positives, because his first competitive Premier League match ended with three points, three goals and a memorable opening day win. The manner of the victory, rather than simply the result, also provided a glimpse of what Alonso wants his Chelsea side to become: aggressive, technically confident and capable of producing decisive moments when matches become chaotic.

What Next for Alonso and Chelsea

The Premier League start could hardly have been more entertaining, and with Palmer already looking dangerous, Pedro announcing himself immediately and Rogers scoring on his league debut, Chelsea have offered their supporters plenty of reasons to believe that Alonso’s reign could develop into something significant.

Fulham, meanwhile, will take encouragement from a performance that pushed one of the division’s most ambitious clubs to the limit, although the defeat will leave them wondering how different the afternoon might have been had Chelsea’s defensive weaknesses been punished more severely.

For Alonso, the most important outcome is that his Premier League start has produced the result every new manager craves. Chelsea have the points, Palmer has the headlines and the opening day win has provided a foundation from which the Spaniard can now begin building his project.