Chelsea secured their first Premier League victory of the season in a dominant fashion, overcoming an early injury to star forward Cole Palmer and an initial deficit to thrash West Ham 5-1 at London Stadium on Saturday.
The win provided a significant lift for manager Enzo Maresca’s side, who responded emphatically to a rocky start. A precautionary groin injury forced Palmer to be replaced by 18-year-old Estevao Willian in the pre-match warm-up, and the hosts capitalized on the disruption when Lucas Paqueta struck a stunning opener in the sixth minute.
However, Chelsea quickly seized control. Joao Pedro equalized with a close-range header nine minutes later. A goal by West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug was subsequently disallowed for a narrow offside, effectively ending the home side’s momentum. The Blues then surged ahead through goals from Pedro Neto (23′) and Enzo Fernandez (34′), taking a commanding 3-1 lead into halftime.
The second half saw Chelsea extend their advantage, with West Ham’s new goalkeeper Mads Hermansen enduring a difficult home debut. Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah both scored from corners within four minutes of each other (54′, 58′), capitalizing on weak attempts by Hermansen to claim crosses.
The fifth goal prompted a mass exodus from the stands, as angry West Ham fans expressed their frustration at their team’s second consecutive loss of the season.
The result marks a concerning start for the Hammers under manager Graham Potter, who has now seen his team concede eight goals in their opening two league matches. The defeat extends West Ham’s winless streak at home to six matches, a stark contrast to their previous form.
Despite concerns over Palmer’s fitness, Chelsea’s comprehensive performance showcased the depth of their squad. Maresca praised his team’s reaction to the early setbacks. “I’m very happy, very impressed, especially because we didn’t start in the right way,” Maresca said. “Cole injury, conceding after five minutes, but the reaction was very good.”
Maresca confirmed that Palmer, who was not 100% in the days leading up to the match, was rested as a precaution. The Italian manager said the club would assess the extent of the injury in the coming hours, as the team prepares for another London derby against Fulham next Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
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