LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Chelsea began life under new coach Xabi Alonso with a breathless 3-2 win at West London neighbours Fulham in the Premier League on Monday as their exciting front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all found the net.
Chelsea got off to a dream start after 31 seconds when Palmer – looking back to his best after struggling with an injury last season – passed to Joao Pedro and the Brazilian flicked the ball over goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham equalised when Josh King beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at his near post in the 24th minute.
But two of Chelsea's new signings then combined in the 41st as central defender Maxence Lacroix jinked down the right before cutting the ball back to the club's £117 million ($159.47 million) record signing Rogers, who made no mistake.
Four minutes into the second half, Palmer slotted the ball through Leno’s legs after he was fed by Joao Pedro.
Fulham's Gonzalo Garcia, on his league debut after signing from Real Madrid, gave the hosts hope by heading in after Sanchez could only parry a Timothy Castagne shot in the 54th.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez – a lynchpin of World Cup runners-up Argentina who has been linked with a move to Manchester City - was greeted with loud boos from the home fans when he came on as a substitute midway through the second half.
Fulham then had a great chance to level again through Antonee Robinson in the 78th minute but his chip over a stranded Sanchez went wide and Chelsea held out to claim the points.
($1 = 0.7337 pounds)
(Writing by William Schomberg)
