Goalkeeping remains Chelsea's weakness but Xabi Alonso's side show attacking promise against Fulham
Chelsea beat Fulham on 24 August 2026 as Xabi Alonso recorded a winning start to his Chelsea reign, with the new side looking dangerous in attack but still vulnerable in goal.
After a weekend in which many would-be challengers displayed flaws, there was a sense that Chelsea needed to emerge as a serious contender to prevent the title race becoming a procession; the new-look front three offered early encouragement. Cole Palmer was involved in all three Chelsea goals and may have benefited from his first summer off in three years, while Josh Acheampong produced an all-action display; however, problems remained through midfield and at the back and the goalkeeper situation — an issue since Thibaut Courtois left — continues to perplex observers.
The match almost swung the other way late on: in the final quarter-hour Antonee Robinson lofted an effort wide with Robert Sánchez off his line and Ryan Sessegnon struck a shot from a narrow angle straight at the Spanish keeper, but neither chance was taken and Chelsea secured the victory. At this stage Alonso will prioritise performances and embedding his system, though results also matter to keep Chelsea within reach of the title race until his methods are fully absorbed.
Alonso’s approach differed markedly from Enzo Maresca’s; where Maresca emphasised control, Alonso’s game relied on rapid turnovers and transitions and at times bordered on recklessness. The contest produced end-to-end football that was entertaining to watch but, as the manager’s systems take root, may need refining if Chelsea are to sustain consistent runs of form.
João Pedro put Chelsea ahead after 31 seconds, matching the quickest goal scored in the reign of a Premier League manager — David Unsworth’s strike in David Moyes’s first game in charge of Everton in March 2002. João Pedro had scored eight goals in eight pre-season games, and his early strike was a first sign of the forward line beginning to show an encouraging understanding; the third goal combined Morgan Rogers’s flick, João Pedro holding the ball up and Palmer slipping a shot between Bernd Leno’s legs.
Alonso’s initial midfield pairing featured Roméo Lavia and Reece James, two players who, despite being at Chelsea together for the past three years, had never previously been paired in the centre. That selection was not entirely by choice: Moisés Caicedo was left out as a precaution and Enzo Fernández remained on the bench until the 65th minute as Manchester City continue their pursuit of him, and the unfamiliar combination allowed Fulham long spells in control of midfield. A defensive rotation also produced an unexpected attacking run from right-sided centre-back Maxence Lacroix, who evaded Jorge Cuenca to cut back for Rogers’s goal.
The most glaring and familiar failing was in goal: Sánchez’s positioning appeared strange for Fulham’s first goal, drilled in at his near post by Josh King, and he pushed Timothy Castagne’s shot straight to Gonzalo García for Fulham’s second. Sánchez made a league-high five errors leading to goals in 2024-25 and three last season, and it remains mystifying that a club which signs wide forwards by the dozen continues to refuse to invest in a top-class goalkeeper — an issue that may yet hold Chelsea back.
Overall, Alonso can take satisfaction from a win against local rivals, an impressive showing from Acheampong, several fluent interactions among the front three and early signs of his system taking hold, while recognising there are a number of clear areas for improvement; for supporters and casual observers alike, the matches so far suggest they should be entertaining.