Chelsea completed the 2026–27 Premier League opening round with a 3–2 win at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea beat Fulham on Monday, 24 August 2026, in the final match of Matchweek 1. João Pedro scored after 31 seconds, Morgan Rogers added a goal before half-time, and Cole Palmer scored Chelsea’s third early in the second half.
Fulham replied through Josh King and Gonzalo García, but Chelsea protected its advantage to begin the season with three points. The match was a west London derby because Craven Cottage is Fulham’s home ground and Chelsea are based across west London.
The fixture was also notable for both managers. Xabi Alonso recorded a winning Premier League debut as Chelsea manager, while Álvaro Arbeloa’s first top-flight match in charge of Fulham ended in defeat. The result should not be confused with Everton’s 2–0 win over Crystal Palace earlier in the round.