Alonso and Arbeloa Lead Their Teams
Xabi Alonso has named his initial Premier League starting lineup as Chelsea manager, featuring new signings Maxence Lacroix and Morgan Rogers. The team is set to face west London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage for their season opener. This match marks Alonso’s first competitive game since taking charge of Chelsea this summer.
Robert Sanchez is in goal for Chelsea, with a defensive line expected to include Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, and Levi Colwill. Malo Gusto and Jorrel Hato are also part of the squad, while captain Reece James and Romeo Lavia are slated for midfield positions. Morgan Rogers is making his competitive debut for the Blues, joining Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro in attack.
Fulham also introduces a new manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, formerly of Real Madrid, who is taking charge of the club. This fixture will see both Arbeloa and Alonso make their Premier League managerial debuts. The two managers were teammates at Liverpool from 2007 to 2009, playing 46 league games together and losing only four of those matches.
This is the first instance in the competition’s history where two managers, who were former teammates as players in the Premier League, are facing each other in their first managerial game in the league. Arbeloa and Alonso are among 11 managers making their first appearance for a specific Premier League side this weekend, which is the highest number on MD1 in a single campaign, excluding the 1992-93 season.
Team News and Player Updates
Chelsea’s lineup for the match includes Sanchez, Gusto, Lacroix, Colwill, Acheampong, James, Hato, Lavia, Palmer, Rogers, and Joao Pedro. Substitutes for Chelsea are Penders, Chavarria, Barco, Enzo Fernandez, Neto, Quenda, Gittens, Estevao, and Danny Welbeck.
New Chelsea signing Danny Welbeck is expected to participate in his 19th Premier League season, having played at least once in every campaign since 2008-09. This achievement places him alongside Jermain Defoe for the most seasons played by a striker in the competition’s history, surpassing Peter Crouch.
Joao Pedro has committed his future to Chelsea by signing a new contract that extends until at least 2032. He has also taken over the number 9 shirt. Alonso commented on Pedro, highlighting his qualities as both a player and a leader, expressing satisfaction with his personality and development.
Enzo Fernandez, despite speculation about his future, is a Chelsea player and is training well, according to Alonso. Fernandez is among the substitutes for the match.
Match Context and Recent Form
Fulham is beginning a Premier League season with a London derby for the fourth time. They have lost their previous three such opening matches: 1-2 against Arsenal in 2007-08, 0-2 against Crystal Palace in 2018-19, and 0-3 against Arsenal in 2020-21.
Chelsea was defeated in their last encounter with Fulham, losing 1-2 in January in the Premier League. However, they have not lost consecutive games against the Cottagers across all competitions since a series of three defeats between April 1977 and October 1979.
Fulham has won their opening game in only one of their last six Premier League seasons, which was against Everton in the 2023-24 campaign. Chelsea, on the other hand, has not won their opening Premier League game in their last three seasons, with two draws and one loss. The last time they went four consecutive seasons without an opening win was between 1995-96 and 1998-99.
In 2026, only Manchester United, with eight home wins, has more Premier League home victories than Fulham, who have secured six wins in their last nine matches at Craven Cottage. Since the beginning of March, Chelsea has accumulated the fewest points among teams not relegated from the Premier League last season, with seven points from two wins, one draw, and eight losses in 11 league games.
This will be the 27th manager to take charge of at least one Premier League game with Chelsea, surpassing Tottenham Hotspur, who have had 26. Only two of Chelsea’s last eight managers have won their first league game, both in London derbies: Graham Potter against Crystal Palace in October 2022, and Liam Rosenior against Brentford in January 2026.
The £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa highlights Chelsea’s significant summer spending. The team finished 10th last season, and the absence of European football this campaign is expected to provide them with more freshness compared to rival squads. The inclusion of experienced players like Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck suggests a different approach for Chelsea this season.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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