In recent weeks, Palmer and Joao Pedro have been Chelsea‘s chief attacking threats, and they now have the dynamic Rogers alongside them.
His move reunites him with Palmer, a former Manchester City team-mate he described after the win at Craven Cottage as his “best friend in football.”
Rogers said Palmer endured a difficult, injury-hit campaign last year, but that during pre-season and training it was clear he was determined to respond and prove people wrong.
He added that the performance showed it: Palmer was comfortably the standout player on the pitch, and it is a major boost to have him on their side.
It was equally encouraging that Rogers—despite a shortened pre-season after England’s run to third at the World Cup—looked so sharp and powerful.
Rogers is the first Chelsea player to score on his Premier League debut since Christopher Nkunku in 2023, and the first to create five chances in his first top-flight appearance since records began in 2003-04.
It was also the first outing where travelling Chelsea supporters unveiled the new Rogers chant.
Like Palmer, Joao Pedro missed the World Cup—omitted from Brazil’s squad—but he returned to pre-season in prolific form, scoring eight in seven matches.
So it was little surprise to see him on the scoresheet early in the league campaign, now wearing the number nine shirt inherited from Liam Delap—left out on Monday—after signing a contract extension over the weekend.
Asked about his front three, Alonso told BBC Match of the Day they combine superbly and have real quality.
He said that when the team finds Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer in good areas, they have the talent to produce special moments, and he was delighted all three forwards scored.
He added that the focus is on putting them in the best positions, praising the trio for playing selflessly for the team.