Cole Palmer was back to his best to get Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea career off to a winning start in a chaotic 3-2 victory at Fulham on Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n
The Blues’ attacking trio of Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers looked every bit among the most potent in the Premier League as all three scored to earn Alonso a deserved win in a game bulging with entertainment and lacking in defending.<\/p>\n
Palmer, finally injury-free and all the better for a summer away from England’s World Cup campaign, scored one and made another, laying on an opener for Joao Pedro – himself refreshed after his surprise Brazil omission – to score after just 31 seconds. The trio never looked back from there.<\/p>\n
Rogers got in on the act on debut with a late run to meet Maxence Lacroix’s cross just before half-time, before his flick-on released Joao Pedro to tee up Palmer for a third shortly after the break.<\/p>\n
Chelsea would have had an easier night despite the surprise injury absence of Moises Caicedo without a nightmare evening for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose mistakes twice let Fulham back into the game.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, whose position as the Blues’ No 1 has long been questioned, let Josh King’s powerful but saveable drive in at his near post to level matters midway through the opening period before spilling a shot straight into the path of Goncalo Garcia to allow Fulham to make it 3-2.<\/p>\n
The first taste of the Alvaro Arbeloa era suggested the Cottagers will play on the front foot regardless of opposition and they created plenty against their west London rivals – but will need to significantly improve their defensive discipline after being cut wide open for each of Chelsea’s goals.<\/p>\n
On this evidence, they will score plenty too – and could have snatched an equaliser when Antonee Robinson horribly miscued a chip with Sanchez in no man’s land. But it would have been harsh on Chelsea, who ran out deserved winners thanks to their electric front three.<\/p>\n
More to follow…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n
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