Chelsea secured their first Premier League victory of the season in dominant fashion, routing London rivals West Ham United 5-1 at the London Stadium. The emphatic win, which saw five different Chelsea players on the scoresheet, piles immense pressure on West Ham manager Graham Potter, a former Chelsea boss, just two games into the new campaign.
The match started brightly for West Ham, with Lucas Paquetá scoring a stunning long-range goal in the sixth minute. However, the lead was short-lived. Chelsea responded with a ruthless display of attacking prowess, with new signing João Pedro equalizing just nine minutes later with a header from a corner. Pedro Neto then put the Blues ahead, converting a pinpoint cross from Pedro, before Enzo Fernández extended the lead to 3-1 before halftime.
The second half was no different for the beleaguered Hammers. Their porous defense, particularly from set pieces, continued to cost them dearly. Moisés Caicedo capitalized on a goalkeeping error from West Ham’s new keeper, Mads Hermansen, to make it 4-1, and Trevoh Chalobah completed the rout with another goal from a corner, leaving thousands of West Ham fans to exit the stadium early in frustration.
The result is a significant one for both clubs. For Chelsea, it provides a much-needed lift after a frustrating opening draw and demonstrates the potency of their new-look attack, which thrived even without star player Cole Palmer, who was injured during the warm-up. For West Ham, it marks their worst start to a top-flight season, having conceded eight goals in their first two matches. The performance and result have left Graham Potter’s future at the club in question, with some commentators suggesting his tenure could be short-lived.