Fulham

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The club are unsure on the severity of Luc de Fougerolles' injury, which forced him off in the second half of Thursday's match. They hope it is "nothing serious".

• On the Canadian's future at the club: "He needs to play every week. Maybe we have to take a decision over the next few days on what is the best solution for him."

• When asked about potential incomings before the transfer window shuts next week: "For me, who just started, I am looking for players that can fit in my system. I think we are ready to improve the squad in the next few days."

• Arbeloa is "not surprised" with how quickly Gonzalo Garcia has settled in at the club: "I've known him since he was 17 so I know his winning mentality, ambition and quality. He is powerful, strong and good with the ball."

• Cesar Palacios, another former Real Madrid player, needs more time to settle in at Craven Cottage: "He has different attributes to Gonzalo, but he is doing great in training. Cesar is the type of player you buy a ticket to watch him play. I have a lot of confidence that he will do really well this season."

• On Sunday's opponents: "It will be a difficult game against a European team. We know away games are always difficult in the Premier League. We need to play with the same character and mentality as we do at home but it won't be so easy."

Listen to full match commentary of Sunderland v Fulham on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Fulham? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Image source, Getty Images

Rodrigo Muniz ended a goal drought of over a year to help Fulham beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 on Thursday and set up a Carabao Cup third-round tie against London rivals West Ham.

Muniz's strike was his first since the opening day of the 2025-26 season, which was marred by a significant hamstring injury.

New striker Gonzalo Garcia also netted as a substitute and Cottagers' manager Alvaro Arbeloa was full of praise for the pair.

"Goals are very important for strikers. We know that and Rodrigo is working hard," he said.

"We have very good strikers with him and Gonzalo. They are different strikers but we need both. Gonzalo always wants to score goals and help the team. I really love that ambition, that character, that winning mentality.

"They both have scored and they are so happy now in the dressing room."

Fulham made 10 changes from Monday's Premier League defeat by Chelsea but they were still too much for their League One opponents, earning their first win under their new Spanish boss.

Arbeloa added: "We know that during the season you will need all your players. There are injuries and problems, so all your players become very important.

"You need players from the bench when the games are complicated, and you need that energy or different qualities.

"AFor me, as a manager, it's very important to have 20 players. They need to feel that they are important and I think they are doing a good job."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

The final two Carabao Cup second-round ties take place on Thursday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment. The winner of Chelsea v Luton will host Leeds in the next round, while the victors at Craven Cottage will travel to West Ham.

• Chelsea v Luton Town (19:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v AFC Wimbledon (20:00) - - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times BST.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

There is also Conference League action going on, with Brighton hosting Tromso in the second leg of their play-off - follow that game here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Luton" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Fulham match".

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the Carabao Cup third round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

The matches will be played in the weeks commencing September 7 and September 14.

• Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough

• Manchester United v Brighton

• Manchester City v Norwich City

• Sunderland v Hull City

• Ipswich Town v Arsenal

• Coventry City v Aston Villa

• Bournemouth v Lincoln City

• Liverpool v Tottenham

• Chelsea or Luton Town v Leeds

• Millwall v Newcastle United

• Everton v Wolves

• Reading v Brentford

• West Ham v Fulham or AFC Wimbledon

Read more and see the full draw

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Carabao Cup second round fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He is encouraged by the "character and personality" his players showed in their Premier League opener. The 3-2 defeat "obviously wasn't the best start", but he added: "I don't know how many other teams will be able to dominate Chelsea like we did."

• On how the Cottagers kept themselves in the game: "Obviously conceding so early in those circumstances isn't easy but, when we started to control the second balls, we started to control the game and play in the opposite half. Ideally, we want to dominate with the ball and control the counter-attacks, while attacking and creating chances."

• It "wasn't an easy" introduction for Gonzalo Garcia, who signed a reported £34m deal this summer, but the forward "did an amazing job" to get on the scoresheet.

• Arbeloa added: "The defenders are allowed to make more contact with the strikers in the Premier League than in La Liga, but his strengths are running and protecting the ball - and, most importantly, he can score goals. I'm so happy for him, I know he will do many good things for us this season."

• Fellow summer signing Cesar Palacios also has the "talent, ambition, character and personality" to succeed in the Premier League.

• On his own experience of playing in the English top-flight, having played for Liverpool and West Ham United, Arbeloa said: "I was also young when I first arrived. The first few weeks weren't easy because everything was a little bit different. They will both need a bit of time to adjust, it is normal."

• With players such as Timothy Castagne, Calvin Bassey and Ryan Sessegnon already at Craven Cottage, Arbeloa says the aim has been to craft the "perfect mix" of youth and experience within the squad.

• Arbeloa says he is "so happy" with his current squad but added: "I was with the owners last weekend and I can say they are fully committed to the project. We discussed making our squad a little bit stronger and more balanced before the window closes. We know there is room to improve."

• On maintaining a happy dressing room this season: "For me, that is the most important thing. We are a team and we need to remain a team. Football isn't just about titles or money, it is about being part of something that is bigger than yourself. I would say being part of a team is the most beautiful thing in football."

Follow all of Thursday's Carabao Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Fulham? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The third-round draw for the 2026-27 Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday, 26 August following the conclusion of Preston North End vs Everton.

Nine Premier League clubs taking part in European football join the 23 first-round winners from across the English Football League.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton and Crystal Palace will enter the competition at this stage, as the top eight Premier League clubs from the 2025-26 season plus Crystal Palace as Conference League winners.

It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of the third round tie between Preston North End and Everton, kicking off at 20:00 BST.

Unlike the opening two rounds of the competition, the third round draw is not regionalised.

However, before the match at Deepdale there will be a pre-draw determining which of the Champions League and Europa League clubs will play at home or away in round three.

In order to avoid potential scheduling issues, the eight Champions League and Europa League clubs cannot be drawn against each other in round three.

When the draw takes place, the first eight fixtures decided are the ones involving clubs in the Champions League and Europa League. The remainder of the draw will be an open draw as usual.

Due to clashes with opening weeks of the Champions League and Europa League seasons, the third round will be played across two different weeks. They are the weeks commencing Monday, 7 and Monday, 14 September, 2026.

Fulham forward Josh King says training sessions have "gone up a level" this summer after the club brought a range of new talent to Craven Cottage.

One of the most noteworthy players brought in was Gonzalo Garcia from boss Alvaro Arbeloa's former club Real Madrid. The Spanish youngster scored on his debut in the defeat by Chelsea on Monday night.

Speaking to BBC Radio London about the need to replace some of the goals lost through sales in the summer, King said: "That's the nature of the game. The position I'm in you've got to contribute with goals and assists.

"We've lost a couple of top finishers in Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson, so I think other people have got to step up, and thankfully I did that today and so did Gonzalo."

On the new recruits King added: "They're really nice people first of all and they're top players as well. I think the quality of training has gone up a level with them there. It's been really good to have them and they've integrated really well, evidently from the last few performances in pre-season and into the game. They've done really well and I think they've got even more to show."

King also spoke highly of the new boss on the touchline saying after Monday's defeat: "He's a top, top coach. I think he's very demanding which is what you want as a young player. He has a good line of communication with us.

"The way we want to play is quite intense and we want to work hard and get after teams and I think that's what we want to implement. It takes time to get used to this system and I think we're definitely doing that and we showed everything which the manager would've wanted from us today and it can only go up."

Press play above to hear the King interview in full or listen on BBC Sounds here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has been clear that he is happy with the club's business so far, but more could be done to make his squad more balanced.

There have been attempts to sign an additional central defender, with a move for Rennes' Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal explored two weeks ago, and that could be a key area the Cottagers look to strengthen.

This is a club that does not operate at the very top end of the transfer market and one that enjoys a deadline-day deal.

John Charles, Fulham fan

It still feels like Fulham need a right winger - whether that is sticking with Oscar Bobb or providing serious competition for him. I think we need to cover for the loss of Harry Wilson's goals.

We also need a right-sided centre-back as there are serious concerns over how Joachim Anderson will fit Arbeloa's new system.

What business do you think still needs to get done before 23:00 BST on 1 September?

Get in touch with your views here

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League history was made before a ball was even kicked this season as a record nine clubs started the campaign with new managers.

Alvaro Arbeloa got his first taste of action as Fulham head coach after succeeding long-servant Marco Silva at Craven Cottage.

So how did he fare on an eventful first weekend of the 2026-27 campaign?

It was a tough opener - and conceding within the first minute did not help Arbeloa's cause as he builds after taking over from Silva.

It is already clear he needs to make sure Fulham can find some goals, although he will be delighted young debutant Gonzalo Garcia got off the mark. It was more of a struggle for the other new arrival from Real Madrid, Cesar Palacios.

The jewel in Arbeloa's crown will be 19-year-old Josh King, who he described as "unbelievable". It is already clear the youngster will bear a heavy weight of responsibility under Fulham's new management.

Read Phil's thoughts on how the rest of the new faces fared here

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Fulham and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

John: It was always going to be tough against Chelsea's attacking riches but we were not helped by conceding such soft goals at the start of each half. We struggled to cope with Cole Palmer throughout, and he looked like a player with a point to prove. On the upside, we responded well and posed a threat ourselves. Josh King was particularly impressive and appears to be maturing nicely. Alvaro Arbeloa has to be afforded patience, but we need to adapt and learn fast.

Sam: Despite the loss to a very strong Chelsea team, it was a good showing from the young talent and new recruits, which makes me positive Fulham will not go down this season and could potentially push for a European spot.

Gordon: Well done, the Whites! A good start in a game we thought we would be second best in. For times, we rocked Chelsea and showed why we are in the Premier League. King has his goal this season, and Gonzalo Garcia too, Now we can kick on. Get a centre-back, another midfielder and a goalie to challenge Bernd Leno and we will be great!

Aaron: Never nice to lose to that lot, but a lot of promise from the display. If only Antonee Robinson hit the target...

Chelsea fans

James: In an attacking sense, brilliant. The defence was once again an issue and Levi Colwill was lucky not to be sent off. It seems glaringly obvious that Robert Sanchez is just not good enough to be number one. I would like to see Mike Penders given a chance - or Emi Martinez signed from Aston Villa.

Jonty: The front three are world class, the back four less so and Sanchez is a calamity! Time for the club to purchase a world-class keeper or they can kiss goodbye to silverware.

Dell: Decent performance for the first game. The frontline looked good, but defensively we were suspect at times, especially after Fulham got their first goal. Sanchez was Sanchez, unfortunately,. We need a top-class keeper.

NJ: So many changes, same old Chelsea. Great up front, but our defence has never reached the Terry-Carvalho years! Give Penders a shot in goal because Sanchez is not consistent enough.

Steven Sutcliffe
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This was the fourth occasion that Fulham had started a Premier League season with a London derby and they have now lost all four.

However, on the night when Alvaro Arbeloa was also in a Premier League dugout for the first time - and against the man he replaced briefly at the Bernabeu earlier this year - there were plenty of positives in defeat.

Gonzalo Garcia, a player he recruited from his former employers over the summer, made an immediate impression with some excellent movement and exhibited predatory instincts to open his account in England.

In doing so, he became the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Fulham since Chris David in May 2014 against Crystal Palace.

But the standout performer in white was Josh King, who is still only 19, already an England Under-21 international and looks to be a star in the making.

At times, he was Fulham's driving force in midfield and was unfortunate to drag a late effort wide that might have given the home side a point.

Fulham starting XI:

Bernd Leno: The German goalkeeper was not particularly at fault for any of Chelsea's goals but still couldn't stop them. 5

Timothy Castagne: The right-back set up King's goal and his shot led to Fulham's second, but he struggled defensively. 6

Jorge Cuenca: His poor clearance and mistimed tackle led to Chelsea's opening goal. He was also at fault for the second, failing to stop Lacroix's cross. However, his lofted pass helped create Fulham's second goal. 4

Calvin Bassey: Less culpable than many of his defensive team-mates, but still part of a disappointing display at the back. 5

Antonee Robinson: The United States international produced an important early block from a Rogers effort and delivered an excellent cross later in the first half, but was often caught out of position on the counter-attack. He lofted a finish well wide in the 77th minute with his weaker right foot when one-on-one with Sanchez. 6

Sander Berge: Struggled to dictate the tempo as he had done in pre-season in an unsettled game. 5

Josh King: The academy graduate was Fulham's standout performer, creating chances and posing a threat before scoring the first-half equaliser. Almost produced an equaliser in the 73rd minute from range. 8

Alex Iwobi: The Nigeria international provided a strong physical presence both defensively and in attack. 6

Oscar Bobb: The Norway international's direct running caused problems down the right, although his influence faded as the game wore on. 7

Gonzalo Garcia: On his debut, Garcia provided a useful focal point in attack in a difficult match for Fulham. He helped relieve pressure after long spells of Chelsea possession and was rewarded with a close-range header in the second half. 7

Cesar Palacios: The new signing worked hard on his debut, but little came off for him, including a long-range effort that flew well over the bar in the first half. 5

Fulham substitutes:

Shea Charles (on 67, Bobb): The new signing from Southampton produced some dangerous long balls as Fulham pushed for an equaliser. 6

Kevin (on 73, Palacios): Did little to influence the game. 5

Ryan Sessegnon (on 73, Berge): His running in-behind threatened down the left and he forced a good save from Sanchez. 6

Rodrigo Muniz (on 82, Robinson): 5

Subs not used: Lecomte, De Gougerolles, Tete, Reed, Kevin, Smith Rowe.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We concede goals in the first minute, the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half and there are not worse moments to concede. But we showed character and personality and I am very proud of how my players responded. We deserved a little bit more but football is not about what you deserve, it is about what you take.

"If you lose against a team like Chelsea they [should] have to do a little bit more. For me, they are easy goals for them and mistakes we cannot make. We need to improve and be more ready in the first minute, that is for sure.

"We are on our way and we will keep improving. The first thing I want to see is a competitive team. We were tonight, we tried our best and tried to play our football against a team like Chelsea, which is not easy.

"I believe in them and I believe in young players. I think they have the energy and ambition I want and they fit in the way I play. Josh King is absolutely amazing. What a player you have here and I am really happy with him. Gonzalo [Garcia] scored and Cesar [Palacios] did well. I think they need a bit more time but they are doing great and making an impact already."

Did you know?

• Gonzalo Garcia became the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Fulham since Chris David in May 2014 vs Crystal Palace.

• Josh King became the third Fulham player to net multiple goals as a teenager in the Premier League (two), along with Collins John (nine) and Ryan Sessegnon (two). He is the first teenager to score in the opening game for any club since 18-year-old Evan Ferguson for Brighton in 2023-24.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies.

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Week one of the 2026-27 Premier League season signals the start of a new era for London rivals Fulham and Chelsea. They meet on Monday night (20:00 BST) at Craven Cottage.

The home side have a new coach in the dugout for the first time in five years. Marco Silva moved on at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract, and Fulham made the bold choice to appoint former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.

As for Chelsea, after a tumultuous 2025-26 season in which they had three different head coaches, they have opted for Xabi Alonso – another former Real Madrid boss – to steady the ship and take the team forward.

Bouncing back after Los Blancos

For Alonso and Arbeloa, this season will be about shaking off challenging respective campaigns in the Spanish capital.

The former took charge of Los Blancos at the start last season and was replaced by his former Liverpool team-mate after being sacked in January. Arbeloa also found the Madrid squad too tricky to tame and was given his marching orders at the end of the season.

A fresh start should do both of them good in theory. Arbeloa has sought to bring some gems from the Bernabeu with him to west London, though, with Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios signing from Real Madrid.

They could help Arbeloa make an early imprint on a squad that was forged in Silva's image over five years. A fast start is something that has eluded the Cottagers in recent seasons too, as they have won just one of their past six Premier League openers.

Change of plan for Chelsea?

After being appointed in May, Alonso has had plenty of time to put together his plan for the new campaign.

While Chelsea have spent big again, there has been a shift in their transfer strategy. Across the previous seven transfer windows, the Blues have signed 30 players at an average age of 20.5; this summer, they have added eight first-team players with an average age of 25.6.

The arrivals of 35-year-old Danny Welbeck and 36-year-old Jordan Henderson would indicate that Alonso feels some experience is essential in what remains a young squad.

They will both be keen to offer something on the pitch too, though. Welbeck, in particular, was fantastic for Brighton last season and netted 13 times in the Premier League.

This year will be a significant one for the former Manchester United and Arsenal man. Welbeck is set to feature in his 19th Premier League season, playing at least once in every campaign since and including 2008-09. This will be the joint-most seasons played by any striker in the competition's history, equalling Jermain Defoe (19) and overtaking Peter Crouch (18).

Welbeck and the rest of the new acquisitions will be key in uplifting the Chelsea squad after the wheels fell off last season in spectacular fashion.

From the start of March, the Blues lost a whopping eight Premier League matches, which was the most of any team in the division.