With several of Arsenal’s potential title rivals stumbling over the weekend, Chelsea had an opportunity to make a statement of their own. A convincing result at Fulham would not suddenly turn them into genuine championship favourites, but it could at least ensure the title race does not become a one-sided affair.

Chelsea ultimately took advantage of that opening, although their 3-2 victory was anything but straightforward. The new-look side offered plenty of excitement in attack, with Cole Palmer playing a decisive role in all three goals. His involvement was particularly encouraging after the England international finally enjoyed his first full summer break in three years.

There were, however, obvious weaknesses elsewhere. Chelsea struggled to impose themselves consistently in midfield and looked vulnerable at the back. Josh Acheampong produced an energetic, influential performance, but the goalkeeping situation remained a major concern, much as it has since Thibaut Courtois departed the club.

The danger of dropping points was particularly clear during the closing stages. With Robert Sánchez caught away from his line, Antonee Robinson sent an effort narrowly wide, while Ryan Sessegnon later fired directly at the Spanish goalkeeper from a difficult angle. Fulham failed to make those opportunities count, allowing Chelsea to secure a winning beginning to Xabi Alonso’s tenure.

For now, the performances themselves may matter more than the league position. Alonso needs time for his players to understand his methods, and that process will inevitably take time. Even so, Chelsea cannot afford to fall too far behind if they hope to remain within touching distance of the title race while the new manager’s ideas become established.

A Sharper, Faster Chelsea Than Under Maresca

The contrast with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea was immediately noticeable.

Maresca’s football was built around possession and control, sometimes at the expense of entertainment. Alonso, by comparison, appears to favour quick transitions, aggressive changes of possession and a more direct route towards goal. The result against Fulham was an open contest in which Chelsea repeatedly attacked at speed and left space behind them.

That approach may become more controlled once Alonso’s tactical structure becomes familiar to the squad. For now, however, there was a distinctly unpredictable quality to Chelsea’s football. The match repeatedly turned into an end-to-end contest, producing the kind of spectacle that supporters may welcome after a period of sterile possession.

Whether such a style can produce consistency over an entire season remains another question. Exciting football can be effective, but maintaining that intensity and openness week after week may also expose Chelsea to unnecessary risks.

João Pedro Provides an Instant Impact

Alonso could hardly have asked for a more immediate contribution from his attack.

João Pedro needed only 31 seconds to put Chelsea ahead, matching the Premier League record for the quickest goal scored during a manager’s reign. The previous mark was also set against Fulham, when David Unsworth scored for Everton in David Moyes’s first match in charge in March 2002.

The Brazilian had already enjoyed an impressive pre-season, scoring eight times across eight matches. That run was particularly notable given that Maresca had previously encouraged him not to become overly focused on finding the net. João Pedro subsequently endured a seven-game spell without registering a shot, making his explosive start under Alonso even more significant.

More importantly, Chelsea’s attacking trio already displayed signs of developing an understanding.

Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers were all involved in the move that produced Chelsea’s third goal. Rogers provided the initial flick, João Pedro held up possession before releasing the ball into Palmer’s path, and the England international finished with a clever effort through Bernd Leno’s legs.

The sequence suggested that Chelsea may have discovered a front three capable of complementing one another naturally rather than simply relying on individual moments of quality.

Alonso Experiments in Midfield

Alonso’s first attempt to establish a midfield structure also produced mixed results.

Roméo Lavia and Reece James were selected together in central midfield despite having spent the previous three years at Chelsea without being deployed as a central pairing. The decision was partly dictated by circumstances. Moisés Caicedo was omitted as a precaution, while Enzo Fernández remained among the substitutes until the 65th minute as Manchester City continued their pursuit of the midfielder.

On paper, Lavia and James offered a physically strong and defensively capable combination. In practice, Chelsea did not always control the middle of the pitch. Fulham enjoyed extended periods of possession and were able to dictate the tempo for significant stretches.

That is unlikely to be an immediate concern for Alonso. His tactical model demands a considerable degree of understanding, particularly because players can be asked to occupy positions that are far from their conventional roles.

Lacroix Adds Another Surprise

One of the clearest examples of Alonso’s positional freedom came during the build-up to Chelsea’s second-half scoring.

Maxence Lacroix, operating as the right-sided centre-back, suddenly appeared inside the Fulham penalty area after connecting with a pass from Palmer. His presence so high up the pitch was difficult to predict, but once there, the defender showed remarkable composure.

Lacroix went beyond Jorge Cuenca before delivering a cutback for Rogers, who calmly converted to register his first Chelsea goal.

It was precisely the sort of unconventional attacking movement that can emerge from Alonso’s system. At the same time, such freedom requires players to understand their responsibilities and make the right decisions quickly. That level of tactical coordination will not arrive overnight.

Sánchez Remains a Major Concern

For all the encouraging elements of Chelsea’s performance, one familiar weakness was impossible to ignore.

Robert Sánchez was involved in both Fulham goals, although the nature of his mistakes differed. For the opening goal, his positioning appeared questionable as Josh King drove the ball into the near corner. Rogers also failed to provide an effective defensive contribution in the sequence.

Fulham’s second was less obviously attributable to Sánchez, but the goalkeeper still parried Timothy Castagne’s effort directly into the path of Gonzalo García, who took advantage.

Sánchez has arguably been judged more harshly than his overall performances warrant by sections of the Chelsea support. Nevertheless, his record does provide legitimate grounds for concern. He committed five errors that directly led to goals during the 2024-25 league campaign, while three more such mistakes followed last season.

That makes Chelsea’s continued reluctance to recruit an elite goalkeeper difficult to understand. The club has invested heavily in attacking players and repeatedly added wide forwards to its squad, yet the goalkeeping position remains unresolved. If Sánchez continues to produce uncertainty behind an otherwise promising team, it could ultimately become one of the factors that limits Chelsea’s ambitions.

A Positive First Step for Alonso

Despite the imperfections, there was plenty for Alonso to take from his opening Premier League match.

Chelsea defeated their local rivals, Acheampong delivered an impressive all-action display, and their new attacking trio showed encouraging chemistry. João Pedro, Palmer and Rogers were able to combine with speed and intelligence, while several aspects of Alonso’s tactical ideas were already visible.

There is still considerable work ahead. The midfield requires greater control, the defence needs more stability and the goalkeeper remains a potential weakness. Alonso will also need to ensure that the freedom and attacking intensity seen at Fulham can eventually be balanced with the consistency required to compete across a full campaign.

For the moment, though, Chelsea have given their supporters something they have been waiting for: a glimpse of what the Alonso era might look like.

It was chaotic at times, occasionally reckless and far from perfect. But it was also energetic, attacking and entertaining. If the early signs are anything to go by, watching Chelsea under Alonso could be considerably more enjoyable than it was during the periods that preceded him.