Chelsea offer thrilling glimpse of Xabi Alonso future as ideal blueprint revealed

Familiar problems remain for Blues against Fulham, but attacking trio shine

If Xabi Alonso’s tenure is to prove a success for Chelsea, the new manager knows he will need his front three to establish a chemistry to rival the very best attacking forces in the country. So far, so good.

Many of Chelsea’s failings of old came to the fore during their opening-night 3-2 victory at Fulham. Their defensive positioning was often suspect, the midfield was too easily marched through in transition, and Robert Sanchez advertised once again how error-prone he is.

And yet the overall feeling among Chelsea fans as they left Craven Cottage will not have been relief at three points, but sheer joy at having watched a front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers excel and also promise so much for the future.

For all three to be off the mark in the first game was a real success story for Chelsea. It was thrilling to watch them at work and a thrilling prospect to envisage what they might become.

Rogers, Chelsea’s £117million record signing, will have been relieved when he arrived late to crash the ball home from the run and pull-back by another debutant, centre-back Maxence Lacroix.

Rogers initially took a back seat in those first 40 minutes, feeling his way in as Palmer and Joao Pedro’s partnership was in full flight. Soon enough, Rogers had netted.

Palmer was the man of the match by some distance - risk-taking and unpredictable. He was the scorer of a composed nutmeg through the legs of Bernd Leno and creator of Joao Pedro’s early opener.

Dream start: Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers all impressed as Chelsea beat Fulham

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Palmer registered just one Premier League assist last season. He matched that tally after 31 seconds this term.

Joao Pedro, rested after inexplicably being snubbed by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil this summer, is expected to rival Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot.

But for Palmer, leading into this season, there had been more unknowns. Would he ever get back to his best? It is why his display will have pleased Chelsea so much.

“I’m very happy for Cole,” said Alonso. “Because I have really enjoyed seeing him playing with this dynamism, with this freedom, this responsibility.”

Fulham did not know what to do with Palmer, and were posed difficult questions - some of which they couldn’t answer - by the energy shown as that whole front three pressed like a well-drilled hunting pack.

Asked afterwards whether he is well-rested after missing out on the World Cup and now ready to go again, ready to be the old Palmer, the one Chelsea sorely missed last season, he said: “Did you not watch the game?” Joking or not, it was a fair enough reply.

Chelsea had only 39 per cent possession, and it was when that trio were tearing away on the counter-attack that you got a glimpse of the devastation they might cause if they are consistently this effective.

Chelsea fans had grown so tired of watching a tepid, possession-dominant team pass to wingers such as Alejandro Garnacho, taking the ball up the byline, trying to gain a yard to cross, checking back, doing so again, and never delivering.

It was thrilling to watch Chelsea’s attack at work and a thrilling prospect to envisage what they might become

Or, indeed, firing the cross over everyone. It had become tedious and was an opposition’s dream to defend against.

Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro in a narrow front three within a 3-4-2-1 formation could well be the ideal antidote. When Crystal Palace sprung a surprise by winning the FA Cup in 2025 under Oliver Glasner, it was their 3-4-2-1 system that did much of the heavy lifting.

Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr operated as narrow No10s behind Jean-Philippe Mateta, and it worked a treat. With Joao Pedro a far more mobile threat than Mateta, Chelsea’s version can function even better.

Rogers and Palmer have been friends for years, since they were kids in Manchester City’s academy, and their relationship off the pitch showed signs of translation on to it.

Of playing alongside a close pal, Rogers beamed: “To do it day in, day out, week in, week out at club level is just an honour.”

Of course, while it is incumbent on Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro to lead Chelsea’s charge for Champions League football, it is not reasonable to pile all the pressure at their door and allow team-mates free rein to underperform, just as they did last season. Alonso himself acknowledged this.

Will Alonso build the team around his front three? “No, build the team with them,” he said. “They need to take responsibility, they need to lead the rest, inspire the rest. Because if they do well, the others will follow.”