Xabi Alonso began Chelsea’s 2026–27 Premier League campaign with a 3–2 win at Fulham.
Alonso’s Chelsea won the West London derby at Craven Cottage on 24 August 2026. João Pedro scored after 31 seconds, Morgan Rogers added another, and Cole Palmer’s goal gave Chelsea a three-goal total.
Fulham scored through Josh King and Gonzalo García, but Chelsea held on for victory. The result gave Alonso three points in his first Premier League match as Chelsea manager.
The fixture also featured a managerial meeting with Álvaro Arbeloa, who was taking charge of Fulham. Both men had recently been associated with Real Madrid, making the opening-round derby a particularly notable coaching matchup.