Cole Palmer was labelled ‘sensational’ and ‘majestic’ after he returned to his brilliant best for Chelsea against Fulham, though Gary Neville has sent Xabi Alonso crucial transfer advice.
Palmer and new signing Morgan Rogers ran the show as Chelsea beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage to begin the Alonso era in entertaining fashion. Palmer had a disappointing 2025-26 season, which culminated in him missing out on a place in England’s World Cup squad, but he was unstoppable at times against Fulham.
Chelsea took the lead in the first minute when Maxence Lacroix won the header from a long Fulham pass, allowing Palmer to play Joao Pedro in with a great first-time touch.
Pedro delightfully chipped over Bernd Leno to begin the campaign in style.
However, Josh King equalised for Fulham as Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez failed to keep out his low drive when he really should have done better.
Luckily for Alonso, his attacking firepower steered Chelsea to all three points. Rogers netted his first Blues goal after great work by Lacroix in the box.
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Shortly after the break, Palmer displayed incredible footwork in the Fulham penalty area a minute before sending the ball through Leno’s legs and into the net from a tight angle.
Gonzalo Garcia clawed one back for Fulham in the 54th minute after another error from Sanchez, but Chelsea saw out the win.
Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith called Palmer ‘majestic’ and ‘absolutely sensational’, while pundit Neville set the Englishman’s value at £120-125m.
“Cole Palmer, sensational. If you’re talking about Palmer getting back to his best, he [Alonso] has a £120-125million player there,” Neville claimed.
“Rogers getting a goal… those two just being electric with Joao Pedro up front – the front three were brilliant tonight.”
When asked if the performance was a warning for Chelsea’s Premier League rivals, Carragher replied: “Yes. On paper, that front three is sensational, but it looked it in the game.
“I think Joao Pedro is fantastic. Rogers’ first game, what a start.
Goalkeeping issues will ‘haunt’ Chelsea
“When you think of him, Palmer and Pedro, that’s as good as anything in the Premier League right now.
“But I do think there’s concerns defensively, they conceded a couple of goals, you look at the goalkeeper…
“They have to sort the goalkeeping issue out because it’s going to come back to haunt them again this season.”
Neville urged Alonso and Chelsea to address the keeper problems by signing a new No 1.
“They’ve added an experienced player in centre-back, central midfield and centre-forward,” he said.
“I don’t know if Emi Martinez is available or not, but someone like that needs to come in at Chelsea because that [Sanchez staying] will undermine everything they do.
“The positives from Fulham came from the encouragement Sanchez gave them with the goals.”
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