Xabi Alonso will make his managerial debut for Chelsea on Monday as the Blues travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in a Premier League fixture. The match marks the beginning of Alonso's tenure with the West London club.
Alonso, a former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder, took over the managerial reins at Stamford Bridge. His appointment signals a new chapter for Chelsea as they aim to build on previous seasons. The club has not disclosed specific targets for the upcoming campaign under Alonso's leadership.
The Premier League 2026/27 season has seen several other notable matches. On August 22, Michael Kayode scored for Brentford in their match against Tottenham Hotspur. The following day, Dominik Szoboszlai netted a goal for Liverpool in their fixture against Newcastle United. Also on August 22, Bruno Fernandes reacted as Manchester United conceded a second goal to Hull City. Earlier in the week, on August 21, Bukayo Saka celebrated scoring for Arsenal against Coventry City.
Fulham and Chelsea have a history of competitive matches, with their most recent encounter on August 30, 2025, at Stamford Bridge, featuring Estevao of Chelsea and Calvin Bassey of Fulham. The league season is underway, with teams competing for points in the early stages.
Chelsea has previously been tipped for success, with pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor suggesting in early August 2026 that the club had a strong chance of finishing in the top three.