Xabi Alonso led Chelsea into the 2026–27 Premier League opening-round match at Fulham.
Chelsea visited Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday 24 August 2026, the final fixture of the opening round. The season page lists Alonso as Chelsea’s manager and Álvaro Arbeloa as Fulham’s manager.
Alonso’s appointment was one of the summer’s notable managerial changes. Chelsea had used Calum McFarlane as an interim manager before Alonso was appointed on 1 July 2026. His arrival made the Fulham match an early test of his Premier League tenure.
A likely mix-up is to choose Arbeloa, because both managers were prominent Spanish former players and both were involved in the same match. Arbeloa was on Fulham’s touchline; Alonso managed Chelsea. Andoni Iraola was Liverpool’s manager, while Michael Carrick led Manchester United.