Chelsea began the Xabi Alonso era with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, securing three points in an entertaining West London derby. João Pedro opened the scoring after just 31 seconds, before Fulham responded through Josh King. Morgan Rogers restored Chelsea's advantage, while Cole Palmer added a third early in the second half. Gonzalo García pulled one back for Fulham, but Chelsea held on to start the 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a win.
João Pedro Makes Premier League History
While the result provided Chelsea with an ideal start under Alonso, João Pedro's early strike created a remarkable Premier League record.
Timed at just 31 seconds, João Pedro scored the quickest-ever goal on Gameweek 1 in Premier League history, with Cole Palmer providing the assist. The Brazilian forward capitalised on a quick Chelsea attack before calmly finishing over Bernd Leno to give the visitors an instant advantage.
The goal also highlighted the immediate attacking connection between Pedro and Palmer. Chelsea wasted virtually no time putting Alonso's more aggressive approach into practice, with Palmer's vision allowing Pedro to exploit the space behind the Fulham defence.
Palmer & Pedro Combination Already Paying Off
The pair continued to play a major role throughout the game. Palmer was heavily involved in Chelsea's attacking moves and eventually got his own name on the scoresheet in the second half, finishing to put the Blues 3-1 ahead. Pedro, meanwhile, demonstrated his ability to contribute beyond simply scoring, creating problems for Fulham's defence throughout the contest.
Their performances will be particularly encouraging for Alonso, who appears to have the attacking quality necessary to make Chelsea an exciting side under his management. The combination of Palmer's creativity and Pedro's movement could become one of the defining features of Chelsea's season.
Chelsea Show Attacking Promise Under Alonso
The victory was not completely straightforward, however. Fulham managed to exploit Chelsea's defensive weaknesses and twice reduced the deficit, ensuring a tense finish at Craven Cottage.
Nevertheless, Chelsea's attacking trio of Pedro, Palmer and Morgan Rogers provided enough quality to secure the victory. Rogers also found the net, continuing what was an impressive attacking display from the visitors.
For Alonso, the three points offer an encouraging beginning, although Chelsea will know there is still plenty to improve defensively.
What's Next for Chelsea?
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea will now face Luton Town in the EFL Cup in midweek before returning to Premier League action. The Blues will then welcome an in-form Brighton side, giving Alonso another opportunity to assess his team's progress against strong opposition.
After the explosive start at Fulham, Chelsea fans will be hoping the Palmer and João Pedro partnership can continue producing moments like the record-breaking opener.
