Winning start to life at Chelsea for Xabi Alonso after win over Fulham

Xabi Alonso made a winning start to life as Chelsea manager in a chaotic 3-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

It took only 31 seconds for Joao Pedro’s goal to bring the visitors’ new era to life, but despite an attacking display that was scintillating at times, plenty still remained of the defensive frailties that have undermined this team in the recent past.

Robert Sanchez’s hopeless attempt to keep out Josh King’s first-half equaliser was a reminder of areas of the pitch where Chelsea remain weak despite spending around £350million this summer.

That outlay included a record £117m lavished on Morgan Rogers. The England forward enjoyed an encouraging debut capped with a slotted finish to make it 2-1 before the break, then Cole Palmer, arguably Chelsea’s best player on the night, began the second half with a beautiful finish to make it three.

Had Alonso had longer to work with his defence, Chelsea might have made lighter work of shutting the game down. Instead, they invited Fulham on, Sanchez fumbled again and Gonzalo Garcia nodded in.

There was plenty here to encourage new boss Alvaro Arbeloa, though not every side he faces will be as defensively accommodating as Chelsea.

It had looked like being a long night. In the first minute, Jorge Cuenca’s ball out of defence was headed back by Levi Colwill and allowed to run into the path of Palmer.

His clipped pass found the run of Joao Pedro who finished stylishly as Bernt Leno advanced.

Chelsea looked nervous defensively, no-one more so than the goalkeeper. Sanchez almost made a mess of turning King’s drive behind with a fumbled parry, but the next effort from the Fulham forward flummoxed him completely. Sanchez left too much room at his near post and was slow to get down,