Xabi Alonso will take charge of his first Premier League game with Chelsea (Getty)Xabi Alonso kicks off his tenure as a Premier League manager with Chelsea with a London derby, as the Blues head to Craven Cottage for their season opener.Fulham also have a new face in dugout as Alvaro Arbeloa, formerly of Real Madrid, takes charge, with the club hoping not to regress in a post-Marco Silva era. The Blues have spent big once again this summer, headlined by the £117m signing of England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, in a bid to change their fortunes after a dismal 10th-place finish last season - although the lack of European football in their campaign this time means they should be fresher than rival squads.The signings of old heads like Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck mean this is a different Chelsea compared to previous eras - and after worrying opening performances from fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester United and Liverpool, Alonso’s men can make a statement in tonight’s fixture. Follow all the latest from Craven Cottagewith our live blog below: When is Fulham vs Chelsea?Fulham’s clash with Chelsea kicks off at 8pm BST on Monday 24 August at Craven Cottage.Flo Clifford24 August 2026 17:40Xabi Alonso will look to begin his Chelsea tenure by claiming local bragging rights as the Blues make the hop to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.The former Liverpool and Spain midfielder shares the touchline with a fellow Premier League debutant, with Alvaro Arbeloa similarly making his managerial bow in the English top flight with the hosts.The Blues have spent big once again this summer, headlined by the £117m signing of England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, in a bid to change their fortunes after a dismal 10th-place finish last season.Fulham, meanwhile, will hope not to regress in a post-Marco Silva era, with Arbeloa hoping to move the team forward with his Real Madrid recruits.Flo Clifford24 August 2026 17:35Good afternoonHello and welcome to live coverage of Fulham v Chelsea, as both clubs begin their Premier League campaigns with a London derby.(Reuters)Flo Clifford24 August 2026 17:29