Xabi Alonso's first competitive game in charge of Chelsea ended in a 3-2 win at Fulham, his new front three settling the match and his goalkeeper becoming the question of the night.
Chelsea led after 31 seconds, João Pedro lifting a finish over Bernd Leno from Cole Palmer's pass, matching the Premier League record for the fastest goal in a manager's first match in charge. Fulham levelled through Josh King in the 22nd minute, Timothy Castagne's ball setting up a low strike that went through Robert Sánchez at his near post. Chelsea regained the lead in the 40th through Morgan Rogers, his first for the club, set up by fellow debutant Maxence Lacroix, and Palmer made it 3-1 three minutes after the break, released by João Pedro behind Fulham's defence.
Sánchez was at fault again for Fulham's second: his save from a Castagne shot was parried into the danger area, where Gonzalo García headed in on his own debut in the 53rd minute. Arbeloa's side pushed for a leveller, Ryan Sessegnon forcing another save and Antonee Robinson lifting a chance wide when one-on-one. Chelsea, who had Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia booked inside the first quarter of an hour, won with 38% of the ball.
"They have strengthened in every position of the pitch but you cannot take a chance on goalkeepers," Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender, said after the match. Jamie Carragher, who played alongside Alonso at Liverpool, went further: "They have to sort the goalkeeping issue out because it's going to come back and haunt them again this season as it did tonight."