Chelsea secured a winning start under new head coach Xabi Alonso with a 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scored, while goals from Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia were aided by errors from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defensive lapses.
Player ratings
Robert Sanchez 2 – Saved from King unconvincingly in the first half and then conceded at his near post to King before palming back out to Garcia for Fulham's second. Very poor.
Josh Acheampong 6 – A couple of last-ditch tackles and blocks helped clear danger, but there were nervous moments, including a poor back-pass to Sanchez.
Maxence Lacroix 7 – A fine debut, defending well and producing a great unexpected run to assist Rogers for the second.
Levi Colwill 5 – Didn't have the best game at the back and wasn't alert as Fulham scored their second.
Malo Gusto 6 – Had limited influence from wing-back on a game won and lost in different areas of the pitch.
Reece James 6 – One effort on goal forced Bernd Leno into a decent save but was otherwise quiet. Booked for fouling King.
Romeo Lavia 7 – Had a big impact in midfield, starting ahead of the injured Moises Caicedo.
Jorrel Hato 6 – Quite good on the ball but sloppy when he took too long on a throw-in, which was then handed to Fulham.
Attacking display
Cole Palmer 8 – Worked tirelessly and was rewarded with an assist and a goal to begin the season with a bang. Pulled up with a hamstring pull late on – nothing serious – and asked to be subbed in the following two minutes.
Morgan Rogers 7 – Had a quiet debut to begin with but grew into the game and opened his account by scoring the second with a late arrival.
Joao Pedro 8 – Off to a flying start, scoring the opener after 31 seconds and then doing brilliantly to assist Palmer for the third.
Substitutes
Enzo Fernandez (Lavia, 65') 5 – Heavily booed by both sets of supporters as he came on in the second half, though some Chelsea fans chanted his name and clearly want him to stay.
Pep Chavarria (Hato, 65') 6 – Quite a handful down the left flank when he came on.
Pedro Neto (Gusto, 76') N/A – No time to make an impact.
Geovany Quenda (Rogers, 82') N/A – No time to make an impact.
Estevao (Palmer, 92') N/A – No time to make an impact.
Not used: Barco, Gittens, Welbeck, Penders.
