Chelsea FPL Attack Takes Shape: Palmer, João Pedro, Estêvão, Rogers and Gittens Compared
Chelsea started Palmer behind João Pedro with Estêvão and Gittens wide against Tottenham. We assess the FPL impact, prices, competition and Morgan Rogers question.
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
Position
Starter
Main role shown
Right wing
Estêvão Willian
Held width, attacked the far post and moved into scoring positions
Operated centrally behind the striker and took a direct free kick
Left wing
Jamie Gittens
Carried the ball, crossed and attacked from the left
Centre-forward
João Pedro
Led the line, attacked the penalty area and linked with the wide players
Central midfield
Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo
Supported progression and protected the four attackers
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
Player
FPL position
2026/27 price
Cole Palmer
Midfielder
£9.5m
Morgan Rogers
Midfielder
£7.5m
João Pedro
Forward
£7.5m
Estêvão Willian
Midfielder
£6.5m
Pedro Neto
Midfielder
£6.5m
Jamie Gittens
Midfielder
£6.0m
Alejandro Garnacho
Midfielder
£6.0m
Geovany Quenda
Midfielder
£5.5m
Liam Delap
Forward
£5.5m
Emmanuel Emegha
Forward
£5.0m
Marc Guiu
Forward
£5.0m
Nicolas Jackson
Forward
£6.5m
The prices create three distinct FPL decisions:
Pay £9.5m for Palmer's central role and likely penalty advantage
Use £7.5m on João Pedro or Rogers
Search for a starting budget route through Estêvão, Gittens or another winger
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
Squad need
Current option
Safest Chelsea midfielder
Palmer
Best Chelsea forward
João Pedro
Best premium alternative
Rogers, after his role is confirmed
Best mid-priced differential
Estêvão
Best £6.0m watch
Gittens
Best cheap forward watch
Delap
Player most likely to change the hierarchy
Rogers
Player requiring the most caution
Any wide attacker selected before the full squad returns
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:
Rogers' first training session and friendly appearance
Palmer's position when Rogers starts
Whether João Pedro remains the central striker
Whether Estêvão keeps the right-wing place
Whether Gittens remains ahead on the left
Neto, Garnacho and Quenda returning to the selection picture
The front four used against Real Sociedad
Alonso's final press conference before Fulham
Penalty and set-piece evidence
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.
OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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