Chelsea Player Ratings: Joao Pedro Defies No. 9 Curse While Sanchez Highlights Need for a New Keeper in Victory Over Fulham

Chelsea might be a little cold, after all.

Joao Pedro got ‘s season off to the perfect start after just 31 seconds with a delightful chip over , having been set up by in a 3-2 win at Craven Cottage.

But with the lead in their hands, showed the same signals of distress that we saw under , and Calum McFarlane – a lack of discipline and too many silly mistakes.

Josh King bought the scores level with a powerful effort after 23 minutes, but Robert Sanchez should have done better to stop it.

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With Chelsea in need of a goal before half-time to calm things down, enter stage left, .

Maxence Lacroix could have got a nose bleed with how high up the pitch he found himself, but instead weaved his way into the box and delivered the ball across the box for Rogers to finish.

With Pedro and Rogers on the scoresheet, it was time for Palmer to join in the action.

Pedro controlled the ball brilliantly and held it up just as well before laying the ball off to his teammate who slotted through Leno’s legs to give the Blues breathing room and wrap up the win despite another goal from Gonzalo Garcia.

This is how SunSport Chelsea reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the players…

ROBERT SANCHEZ – 2

Not again, Rob. Please. Don’t give Chelsea fans another season of this.

Didn’t look assured at the back for the Blues, with some questionable passes out from the back, before a really poor bit of shot stopping for Josh King’s equaliser.

His role in Fulham’s second goal was not so disastrous, but still not good enough as he palmed the ball out to Gonzalo Garcia to score a goal which got Fulham back into the game again.

A few routine catches and saves is not good enough, Chelsea need a new goalkeeper in order to not undermine an otherwise good transfer window.

JOSH ACHEAMPONG – 8

Made several crucial blocks and clearances, particularly with the score at 1-1 to keep the Blues in the game.

Was probably Chelsea’s best actual defender in the back three tonight, with the other two struggling a little in this system – one of his best performances in a Blue shirt and he should be rewarded with more minutes.

MAXENCE LACROIX – 7

His first competitive game for Chelsea saw him look a little bit unsure of himself on the ball to start with, but he certainly sorted those issues out before half-time with a wonderful assist for Morgan Rogers first Premier League goal in Chelsea blue.

Really grew as the game went on.

LEVI COLWILL – 3

was perhaps a little fortunate not to be sent off in the opening ten minutes after a poorly timed tackle on Oscar Bobb after mis-controlling a pass from his teammate.

He’s usually such a consistent performer, but tonight really wasn’t his night, and there was a case to be made for him being sent off on a second occasion in the first half too.

He was caught out of position for Fulham’s second goal too, and just looked out of sorts from the off in this game.

MALO GUSTO – 4

The less threatening of Chelsea’s wingbacks, he was far from convincing despite some decent moments.

It was quite a quiet day for the Frenchman, but in his role you want someone loud who is making things happen, and Blues fans will be excited to see Marco Palestra or even Pedro Neto there instead.

JORREL HATO – 6

Was better than Gusto, particularly going forwards, but had some shaky moments defensively, it’s hard to see where he fits in this Chelsea team long term, as he would ideally be the left sided player in a back three, where Levi Colwill plays.

A real mixed bag from the Dutchman.

ROMEO LAVIA – 6

The role of replacing Moises Caicedo is not an easy one to fill.

Got booked after 11 minutes for a bad tackle on who was breaking out from the back for Fulham – and walked the tightrope for the rest of the game quite well.

Almost put Chelsea 2-1 up in the first half when his close range effort following a set-piece was denied by Bernd Leno.

REECE JAMES – 6

Was far from the standout performer, but quietly quite good, the captain.

Influences the game in an attacking and defensive dynamic when he is at his best, and wasn’t quite there today, but still showed his quality and stepped up in midfield with Caicedo out and Enzo Fernandez on the bench.

COLE PALMER – 9

Cole Palmer is back.

With so much conversation about Palmer over the summer, an assist just 31 seconds into the new season will do the Chelsea number 10 a world of good.

He was full of confidence after the opening goal, and looked desperate for one of his own, although he was perhaps a little too greedy at times – a lesson he seemed to learn when he was also involved in Chelsea’s second.

Trying too hard can sometimes be the enemy of progress, but not today for ice-cold Cole, whose consistent and overwhelming effort saw him sprint past Joao Pedro and claim a goal of his own in the second half.

MORGAN ROGERS – 7

The new £117million man bagged on his first competitive Chelsea start after some brilliant work from Lacroix, and might have to pay a fee to Cole Palmer for using his trademarked celebration in the aftermath.

He was caught off guard defensively for Josh King’s equaliser, but all was forgiven when he found the back of the net 18 minutes later.

JOAO PEDRO – 9

It took just 31 seconds for Joao Pedro to get off the mark this season, with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper after latching onto Cole Palmer’s through ball.

His assist for Chelsea’s third, as he repaid the favour to Cole Palmer, was full of just as much quality.

A great touch, a great run and a great lay-off showed why he is turning into such a complete number nine.

He thought he had a second late on, but for the offside flag.

SUBS:

ENZO FERNANDEZ (ROMEO LAVIA, 65) – 5

Kept things ticking nicely when he came on, but was far from exhilarating.

He was booed by anyone in the stadium not supporting Chelsea, but that reaction didn’t seem to bother him too much.

PEP CHAVARRIA (JORREL HATO, 65) – 6

Was solid after replacing Hato on the left for Chelsea, with the Blues seeming a little more assured, although the missed Hato’s attacking presence to a degree.

PEDRO NETO (MALO GUSTO, 76) – 5

Didn’t have much time to make a big impact, but did what was required of him in working hard defensively out wide.

GEOVANY QUENDA (MORGAN ROGERS, 83) – 6

An exciting double change saw he and Estevao introduced together, as supposedly the next generation of exciting Chelsea talents in attack, replacing Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers.

He showed flashes of pace and a willingness to defend, and would have been involved in a late Joao Pedro goal, but for the offside flag.

ESTEVAO (COLE PALMER, 83) – N/A

Similarly to Quenda, he didn’t have much time to make an impact, but always looks good on the ball and gets fans up for it.