Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham sees Xabi Alonso handed an immediate selection dilemma as he prepares for his first competitive game in charge at Craven Cottage.
The Blues open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign on Monday night after ending pre-season with a convincing 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad.
Alonso has confirmed Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns and that the players who returned late following the World Cup are available for selection. Chelsea’s official team-news update also confirmed Danny Welbeck is expected to be available after managing a minor issue.
🚨 Xabi Alonso has responded to concerns over Chelsea’s so-called ‘bomb squad’.
Jackson, Delap, Disasi and Mudryk are among those to have worked away from the main group.
Alonso insists: “It’s not been an issue.”
And the reality behind Chelsea’s separate training groups is more…
— ChelseaReport (@chelsreport_) August 21, 2026
Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham could keep Alonso’s back three
Alonso’s final pre-season selection offered the clearest indication yet of how Chelsea could line up.
The Blues started in a 3-4-2-1 against Real Sociedad, with Robert Sanchez behind Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill. Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra operated as wing-backs, while Reece James partnered Moises Caicedo centrally.
Chelsea won 3-1, with Morgan Rogers opening the scoring before João Pedro struck twice. The official Chelsea match report confirmed Alonso used the system throughout the strongest stages of the friendly.
Fofana cannot simply retain his place on Monday, however. The defender is suspended following his red card against Sunderland on the final day of last season, leaving Alonso with an important decision on the right side of his defence. The Evening Standard’s latest Chelsea team news also lists Fofana among Chelsea’s confirmed absentees.
Our prediction is that James drops into the back three alongside Lacroix and Colwill.
Alonso has already stressed the Chelsea captain’s versatility. Speaking through Chelsea’s official website, the Spaniard explained that James can play at right-back, in midfield or centrally in a back three.
That flexibility could solve the Fofana problem without forcing Alonso to abandon the structure he tested in Chelsea’s final friendly.
Enzo Fernandez could return alongside Caicedo
Moving James backwards would create room for Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentina international only returned to pre-season training later than several team-mates following the World Cup, but Alonso has confirmed he is available against Fulham.
Enzo came off the bench against Real Sociedad and replaced James after 62 minutes, which makes a midfield partnership with Caicedo a realistic option from the start on Monday.
It would also allow Neto and Palestra to retain their wing-back roles.
Palestra has made a strong impression since joining Chelsea, with Alonso describing the Italian as a player who offers the squad “something different“.
Palmer and Rogers should start behind João Pedro
The front three looks considerably easier to predict.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers started together behind João Pedro against Sociedad, and the combination immediately produced.
Rogers scored on his first Chelsea appearance following his £117million arrival from Aston Villa, while João Pedro’s brace took him to seven goals during pre-season.
Chelsea have since strengthened their commitment to the Brazilian even further. João Pedro signed a new Chelsea contract until 2034 on Saturday, reinforcing his status as Alonso’s first-choice No.9.
Palmer and Rogers are therefore expected to start either side of him.
Fulham also enter the derby with problems of their own. ReadChelsea reported on Saturday that captain Tom Cairney and suspended centre-back Joachim Andersen will miss the game.
That gives Alonso an opportunity to immediately test Chelsea’s new attacking structure against a Fulham side missing an important defensive leader.
ReadChelsea predicted Chelsea XI vs Fulham (3-4-2-1):
Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palestra; Palmer, Rogers; João Pedro.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham: £120m Enzo Fernandez call looms
Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham: £120m Enzo Fernandez call looms