Chelsea edge Fulham 3-2 as Xabi Alonso wins first managerial meeting with Alvaro Arbeloa

Chelsea opened their Premier League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham, as Xabi Alonso secured an early win in his first managerial meeting with former Real Madrid colleague and assistant Alvaro Arbeloa.

Joao Pedro gave Chelsea the lead after only 31 seconds, scoring the fastest goal in the history of the Premier League’s opening round. Morgan Rogers restored the visitors’ advantage before half-time, and Cole Palmer added a third shortly after the break.

Fulham responded through Joshua King and debutant Gonzalo Garcia, but Chelsea held on to claim their first victory of the new season.

The result also marked the first contest between Alonso and Arbeloa in charge of opposing senior teams. Arbeloa had previously worked as Alonso’s assistant at Real Madrid.

Joao Pedro was central to Chelsea’s performance, scoring once and providing the assist for Palmer’s goal. Rogers also made history on his Premier League debut for the club.

He created five chances during the match, becoming the first Chelsea player since the 2003-04 season to make five or more chances in his first Premier League appearance for the club. Rogers also became the first Chelsea player in that period to record at least three shots and create at least three chances in the first half of his league debut.

Chelsea named the youngest starting line-up of any club in the Premier League on the opening weekend, with an average age of 24 years and 43 days. New signing Rogers started alongside Joao Pedro and Palmer, while Enzo Fernandez was among the substitutes.

Chelsea made the faster start and went ahead when Palmer produced an excellent pass for Joao Pedro, who lifted his finish over the goalkeeper.

Fulham should have levelled in the 15th minute, but Roberto Sanchez kept out a clear opportunity from King. The forward did not have to wait long for another chance, however, and equalised eight minutes later with a powerful effort. Sanchez got a hand to the shot, but could not prevent it from crossing the line.

Palmer then went close to putting Chelsea back in front when he raced past a defender in the 30th minute, only for the Fulham goalkeeper to make the save.

Chelsea regained the lead four minutes before the interval. Maxence Lacroix produced a strong individual run before finding Rogers arriving from behind, and the new signing finished into the Fulham net.

Palmer nearly extended Chelsea’s advantage three minutes after the restart when he weaved through the Fulham defence, but his effort went just wide.

He did find the net in the 50th minute, though. Joao Pedro supplied the pass and Palmer squeezed the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 3-1.

Fulham replied quickly through Garcia, who reduced the deficit in the 54th minute with his first goal in the Premier League.

Joao Pedro narrowly missed the chance to add another when his well-struck effort in the 64th minute went just wide of the Fulham goal. He appeared to have scored again in the 90th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Chelsea’s victory gives Alonso a winning start in the Premier League. They host Brighton in the second round on Sunday, while Fulham travel to face Sunderland on the same day.