Chelsea Triumphs 3-1 Over Real Sociedad: Xabi Alonso’s Dynamic New Trio Dazzles, While Enzo Faces Mixed Reactions

THE ICE COLD era has begun at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues lethal new front three in action for the first time together.

went 1-0 up against in the goalscoring charts for Chelsea since the Aston Villa man signed on for £117m, although he didn’t pull out the celebration fans are waiting to see from the pair of pals.

Fans showed up in their thousands to watch Rogers, among others, for the first time, and didn’t leave disappointed when he opened the scoring inside 11 minutes.

Rogers got by far the biggest cheer ahead of kick-off when the teams were read out, and about 15 minutes later came the birth of his first Chelsea chant, to the tune of “I just can’t get enough” by Depeche Mode.

His decision not to pull out the iconic celebration might have to do with the nature of the goal, or perhaps there is a romance in him waiting to link up with pal Palmer to do it for the first time at together.

It was a Pedro Neto cross from the right hand side onto the head of Joao Pedro that created the goal, with a header towards the far post being well kept-out by Alex Remiro, only for Rogers to be on hand to tap it in from close range.

Chances came and went for both sides, with the Blues seeming to be in the ascendency until disaster struck before half-time.

Deja-blue, you might say. dominate and are undone by a spot of poor defending.

That came in the 44th minute, when Jon Mikel Aramburu struck an excellent finish into the bottom right corner with his left foot, after some confusing-looking defending from the Blues in their new three-at-the-back shape.

Chelsea of last season would have let the game slip from there.

But not ‘s side.

When Rogers looked like he might be able to steal Palmer’s limelight, Palmer reminded Stamford Bridge exactly what he is capable of.

The second half was hardly underway when Palmer seemed to spin a web around former Man City man Sergio Gomez on the right hand side, and tie him up in knots before laying the ball off to Reece James – it was his cross that found the head of the lethal Joao Pedro to make it 2-1.

With Palmer and Rogers behind him, Pedro might just become unstoppable – that finish was his seventh in as many pre-season matches, and Fulham will be more than wary of facing him in the Blues’ season opener next Monday night.

Before the game was up, he made it eight in seven.

Xabi Alonso rung in the changes with 20 minutes to go, with Rogers and Palmer both substituted, but opted to keep his dangerous number 20 up top.

Another decision that paid off, with Pedro racing through on goal down the right hand side after a great through ball by , slotting the ball into the far corner to grab a brace and give his side a two-goal cushion.

One decision from Alonso that fans weren’t so sure of, was bringing on Enzo Fernandez.

The Argentine midfielder has been subject to plenty of transfer talk this summer about wanting to leave Stamford Bridge, as well as irritating some England fans by scoring against them in the World Cup semi-final.

He was initially booed by supporters when he came on, who seemed to quickly forgive him and chanted his name moments later – he continued to get a mixed reception throughout.

Chelsea sat comfortably with the lead though, as fan-favourite Estevao fired over the bar with the Blues in control.

Xabi Alonso’s side gave a good account of themselves for the final time before they face Fulham in their Premier League opener next Monday night, with a few defensive errors to work on – and a Fernandez situation to work out – before the season starts.