Cole Palmer was back to his best to get Xabi Alonso's Chelsea career off to a winning start in a chaotic 3-2 victory at Fulham on Monday Night Football. The Blues' attacking trio of Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers looked every bit among the most potent in the Premier League as all three scored to earn Alonso a deserved win.

It took just 31 seconds for Palmer to lay down a marker by teeing up an opener for Joao Pedro. Rogers got in on the act on debut with a late run to meet Maxence Lacroix's cross just before half-time, before his flick-on released Joao Pedro to tee up Palmer for a third shortly after the break.

Chelsea would have had an easier night despite the surprise injury absence of Moises Caicedo without a nightmare evening for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose mistakes twice let Fulham back into the game. The Spaniard let Josh King's powerful but saveable drive in to level matters midway through the opening period before spilling a shot straight into the path of Goncalo Garcia to allow Fulham to make it 3-2.

On this evidence, they will score plenty too - and could have snatched an equaliser when Antonee Robinson horribly miscued a chip with Sanchez in no man's land. But it would have been harsh on Chelsea, who ran out deserved winners thanks to their electric front three.