Chelsea FPL Attack Takes Shape: Palmer, João Pedro, Estêvão, Rogers and Gittens Compared

Pre-season evidence checked: 1 August 2026

Chelsea's most senior attacking lineup of Xabi Alonso's first pre-season tour has provided an important early clue for Fantasy Premier League managers.

Against Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney, Chelsea started in a 4-2-3-1 shape with:

• Estêvão Willian on the right
• Cole Palmer as the central number 10
• Jamie Gittens from the left
• João Pedro as the centre-forward
• Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo behind them

Estêvão scored Chelsea's goal, João Pedro carried the greatest central threat, Palmer remained involved in direct free kicks and penalty-area actions, and Gittens supplied the cross that was deflected to the back post for the equaliser.

This was meaningful evidence, but it was not confirmation of Chelsea's final Gameweek 1 attack.

Morgan Rogers was absent while taking time off after the World Cup, and several other senior attackers were not included in the 29-player tour squad published by Chelsea. The next friendlies must show how Alonso fits the full group together.

Chelsea's attacking shape against Tottenham

The starting lineup was officially described by Chelsea as Estêvão, Palmer and Gittens behind João Pedro.

That makes this the clearest early tactical signal from Alonso's pre-season, especially because several senior players completed around 80 minutes.

Use the OneFPL Team News to track whether the same front four starts the remaining friendlies.

What happened in the match?

Tottenham won 2-1, but the result is less important for FPL than the attacking roles.

Estêvão's goal and threat

Estêvão arrived at the back post to head in Chelsea's equaliser after Gittens' cross was deflected.

He then had two further efforts saved in the second half. One followed good work from João Pedro, while another came after Chelsea recovered possession high up the pitch.

The performance showed several useful FPL routes:

• Back-post runs from the right
• Shots inside the penalty area
• Combination play with João Pedro
• Opportunities after high turnovers
• Potential bonus involvement when he scores

One friendly does not make him a guaranteed starter, but it strengthened his case.

João Pedro's central role

Chelsea's report described João Pedro as their biggest first-half threat.

He had an opportunity inside the penalty area, reacted quickly to a defensive mistake to break through and win the foul that resulted in Kevin Danso's red card, created a shooting opportunity for Estêvão and was later denied from close range.

Those actions are important because they show more than a fixed target-man role.

João Pedro was:

• Leading the line
• Dropping into combinations
• Attacking space behind defenders
• Creating chances for a winger
• Receiving chances inside the box
• Pressing defensive mistakes

Palmer remained central

Palmer started as the number 10 rather than being pushed permanently to the wing.

He took the direct free kick after João Pedro was fouled and later had a penalty-area shot blocked.

The match did not produce a goal or assist for Palmer, but the central position preserved his strongest routes to FPL points:

• Penalties
• Direct free kicks
• Chances created
• Shots from central areas
• Combinations with the striker
• Bonus points when Chelsea win

Gittens started on the left

Gittens' cross was deflected before Estêvão scored, so it should not be treated as a clean official assist signal.

The more useful takeaway is positional. He started on the left of the senior front four and was involved in the move that produced Chelsea's goal.

His role offered width, dribbling and delivery, but his starting security remains the weakest among the four because Chelsea have several alternatives for the wide and inside-left positions.

Chelsea FPL prices

The prices create three distinct FPL decisions:

1. Pay £9.5m for Palmer's central role and likely penalty advantage
2. Use £7.5m on João Pedro or Rogers
3. Search for a starting budget route through Estêvão, Gittens or another winger

Check live ownership and availability in the OneFPL Player Lab.

Cole Palmer: still Chelsea's safest midfielder?

Palmer scored 11 goals and supplied three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions last season.

In the Premier League, he scored 10 goals, including five penalties.

His campaign was disrupted by injury, which helps explain why his final FPL total fell below the elite midfielders.

Why Palmer remains attractive

• Central number 10 role against Tottenham
• Previous penalty responsibility
• Direct free-kick involvement
• Proven Premier League output
• £1.0m cheaper than his 2025/26 starting price
• Can play with João Pedro and Rogers rather than necessarily losing his position to either

Main concerns

• £9.5m still requires premium-level returns
• Rogers can share central creative spaces
• Chelsea have more attacking depth
• Final penalty and set-piece hierarchy must be confirmed
• Palmer's 2025/26 injury record deserves monitoring

Current verdict: Chelsea's safest midfielder, but not automatically the best value.

João Pedro: Chelsea's leading forward?

João Pedro produced 20 goals and six assists in 50 appearances last season, including 42 starts.

Chelsea used him mainly as a central striker, with occasional appearances in a deeper role. He was also voted the club's Player of the Season.

The Tottenham friendly reinforced his position at the front of the senior attack.

Why the £7.5m price can work

• Proven 20-goal club season
• Central starting role
• Links effectively with Palmer and Estêvão
• Can score and create
• Produced 177 FPL points last season
• Does not use a midfield slot
• Completed around 80 minutes against Tottenham

Risks

• Liam Delap and other forwards provide competition
• Rogers can occasionally play close to the striker
• Penalties may remain with Palmer
• Chelsea's depth can reduce 90-minute appearances
• The opening fixtures include Arsenal away in Gameweek 3

Current verdict: The strongest Chelsea forward and a serious £7.5m option when he starts the final friendly.

Estêvão: the breakout FPL differential?

Estêvão recorded eight goals and three assists in 36 appearances during his first Chelsea season.

Only 20 of those appearances were starts, and a hamstring injury ended his campaign in April and ruled him out of the World Cup.

At £6.5m, he needs more than talent. He needs regular Premier League starts.

What the Tottenham match improved

• Started with the senior attacking group
• Played from the right
• Scored from a back-post run
• Produced two further efforts that required saves
• Combined effectively with João Pedro
• Looked capable of attacking both inside and outside

Remaining risks

• Pedro Neto and other wide attackers remain major competition
• Chelsea may manage him after the previous hamstring injury
• One strong friendly can be followed by rotation
• Rogers' return can change the attacking structure

Current verdict: Chelsea's most exciting mid-priced differential, but wait for the final two meaningful lineups.

Jamie Gittens: value or rotation trap?

Gittens finished last season with one goal and five assists from 27 appearances.

Only 12 were starts, and injury ended his season in January before further setbacks interrupted his return.

The Tottenham start was encouraging because he occupied the left side of the senior attack.

FPL positives

• £6.0m price
• Direct winger profile
• Started ahead of the available alternatives
• Involved in the move for Estêvão's goal
• Can create through crosses and dribbling

FPL concerns

• Pedro Neto produced 10 goals and 10 assists last season
• Alejandro Garnacho produced eight goals and four assists
• Rogers can operate from the left or in an inside-left pocket
• Quenda adds another wide option
• Gittens must prove fitness and repeated starts

Current verdict: Watchlist only until Chelsea's full attacking group is available.

Where does Morgan Rogers fit?

Rogers did not play against Tottenham because he was on a post-World Cup break.

His absence is the biggest reason not to call the Tottenham front four Chelsea's confirmed first choice.

Alonso has already explained that Rogers can play:

• In a pocket close to the striker
• Close to the number 10
• From the right
• From the left while moving inside

The manager also indicated that he wants Rogers and Palmer to develop connections rather than simply compete for one place.

That creates several possible shapes.

Rogers from the left

Rogers can replace Gittens while moving inside to support Palmer and João Pedro.

This may be the most natural route to fitting the three highest-priced Chelsea attackers together.

Rogers and Palmer as dual number 10s

Alonso can use two attacking midfielders behind a striker, especially if Chelsea switch from the 4-2-3-1 shown against Tottenham.

This can improve central combinations but may reduce the width provided by a conventional winger.

Rogers on the right

Alonso has noted that Rogers has experience on the right, although he is more accustomed to arriving from the left.

This would create direct competition with Estêvão and Neto.

Read the existing Morgan Rogers to Chelsea FPL analysis for the transfer-specific view.

What about Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho?

Neto produced 10 goals and a Chelsea-high 10 assists in all competitions last season. He made 52 appearances and 43 starts.

That record means he cannot be treated as a reserve simply because he was not in the published tour group for the Tottenham match.

Garnacho recorded eight goals and four assists from 43 appearances, including 22 starts.

Both players can challenge Gittens and Estêvão for wide minutes.

The next important evidence is not just who starts one friendly. It is:

• Which attackers start together when the full group is available
• Who begins the final Stamford Bridge friendly
• Who completes 70 or more minutes
• Whether Rogers plays wide or central
• Whether Neto immediately returns to a first-choice role

Does Liam Delap threaten João Pedro?

Delap replaced João Pedro after 80 minutes against Tottenham.

Last season, Delap made 41 appearances but only 16 starts, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

His £5.5m FPL price is attractive, but only if his minutes increase substantially.

Delap becomes relevant when

• He starts the final friendly
• João Pedro moves into a deeper role
• Alonso uses two forwards
• Chelsea confirm regular rotation
• His penalty-area minutes increase

Current assessment

The Tottenham lineup favoured João Pedro clearly.

Delap remains an inexpensive squad option rather than a safe Gameweek 1 selection.

Provisional Chelsea attacking hierarchy

This ranking is based on current FPL value, not a claim about Alonso's final squad hierarchy.

Chelsea's opening fixtures

Chelsea's schedule contains enough upside for one attacker, but Arsenal away reduces the appeal of an early double-up.

Review the complete run with OneFPL Fixtures.

Penalties and set pieces

Palmer scored five Premier League penalties last season and took the direct free kick created by João Pedro against Tottenham.

That keeps him at the front of the set-piece discussion.

However, FPL managers should still monitor:

• Penalties during pre-season
• Direct free kicks
• Corners from each side
• Whether Palmer remains on the pitch for 80 to 90 minutes
• Rogers' and Neto's involvement
• Enzo Fernández's role when he returns

Do not assign permanent duties based on a single friendly.

Best Chelsea attacker by squad need

Should FPL managers double up?

Not yet.

A Palmer and João Pedro double-up can eventually become viable because they occupy different FPL positions and can combine in the same attack.

The early risks are:

• Arsenal away in Gameweek 3
• Unresolved winger hierarchy
• Rogers' pending integration
• Unclear substitutions and 90-minute security
• More pre-season matches still to come

Start by identifying one Chelsea attacker who fits the squad structure.

Test Palmer, João Pedro, Rogers and Estêvão combinations in the OneFPL Planner.

What to monitor next

Chelsea still have pre-season matches against Juventus, AC Milan, Johor Darul Ta'zim and Real Sociedad.

The most important checkpoints are:

1. Rogers' first training session and friendly appearance
2. Palmer's position when Rogers starts
3. Whether João Pedro remains the central striker
4. Whether Estêvão keeps the right-wing place
5. Whether Gittens remains ahead on the left
6. Neto, Garnacho and Quenda returning to the selection picture
7. The front four used against Real Sociedad
8. Alonso's final press conference before Fulham
9. Penalty and set-piece evidence
10. Expected substitution patterns

OneFPL verdict

Chelsea's attack is taking shape, but the first-choice front four is not confirmed.

The Tottenham friendly produced four strong signals:

• Palmer remained central
• João Pedro led the line and carried the greatest central threat
• Estêvão strengthened his breakout case
• Gittens received an important left-wing start

The missing piece is Rogers.

Once Rogers joins the group, Alonso must show whether he replaces a winger, plays beside Palmer or rotates through several positions.

For now:

• Palmer is the safest Chelsea midfielder
• João Pedro is the leading forward
• Estêvão is the best differential watch
• Gittens is not secure enough to select
• Rogers can become the best £7.5m midfielder when his exact role is clear
• Delap remains behind João Pedro based on the strongest available lineup evidence

Do not finalise a Chelsea attacking double-up until the Real Sociedad friendly and the Gameweek 1 press conference.

FAQ

What attacking formation did Chelsea use against Tottenham?

Chelsea used a 4-2-3-1, with Estêvão, Palmer and Gittens behind João Pedro.

Is this Chelsea's confirmed first-choice attack?

No. It is the strongest current pre-season clue, but Rogers was absent after the World Cup and several other attackers were outside the published tour squad.

Who scored for Chelsea?

Estêvão scored with a back-post header.

Who looked most dangerous?

Chelsea's official report described João Pedro as their biggest first-half threat. Estêvão also scored and had two further efforts saved.

Did Gittens get an assist?

His cross was deflected before Estêvão scored, so the move is evidence of involvement rather than a guaranteed official-assist indicator.

Is Palmer still playing as a number 10?

He started centrally behind João Pedro against Tottenham.

How much does Palmer cost in FPL?

£9.5m.

How much does João Pedro cost?

£7.5m as a forward.

Is Estêvão a good FPL pick?

He is a strong £6.5m differential watch, but managers should wait for repeated starts when Chelsea's full attacking group is available.

Where will Morgan Rogers play?

Alonso has said Rogers can play close to the striker or number 10, on the right or from the left. His final role is not yet confirmed.

Sources

• Chelsea match report: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham
• Chelsea confirm the starting lineup against Tottenham
• Chelsea's official 2026/27 FPL prices
• Chelsea's 2025/26 forward statistics
• Chelsea's 2025/26 goals and assists
• Alonso explains his plan for Rogers and Palmer
• Chelsea confirm Rogers signing
• Chelsea's published pre-season tour squad
• Chelsea's 2026/27 Premier League fixtures
• Official FPL player list

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