Xabi Alonso began his Stamford Bridge reign with an entertaining 3-2 Premier League win at west London rivals Fulham on Monday. While the result was positive, the match highlighted a stark contrast between Chelsea’s potent attack and defensive vulnerabilities.
A potent new-look attack
Morgan Rogers, making his debut following his club-record £117m summer move from Aston Villa, combined with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro to produce a devastating attacking display. All three players scored, with Palmer looking back to his best after a difficult year hampered by injuries and his omission from England’s World Cup squad.
Defensive concerns persist
At the other end, questions remain over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after two errors contributed to Fulham’s goals from Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia. Addressing the mistakes, Alonso emphasized collective responsibility: “We need to accept and learn from them. All the lines, from the strikers, the midfielders, the defence, the goalkeepers, we want to do better in everything.”
Expert reaction
- Alonso stated his front three must “lead the rest” so that the “other ones will follow.”
- Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, described Palmer, Rogers, and Joao Pedro as “as good as anything in the Premier League right now.”
- However, Carragher also warned that Chelsea “will never win the league with Sanchez in goal.”
