Chelsea produced a devastating display of power, precision, and composure to dismantle West Ham United 5-1, serving a chilling reminder of the gap between the clubs as much-needed pressure mounted on the beleaguered Graham Potter.
The night began ominously for West Ham when Lucas Paquetá curled a sensational opener into the top corner inside six minutes, flicking early hope into an already tense start to the season.
But then Chelsea ripped the game apart with five different goalscorers, sudden throughout but devastating in execution.
João Pedro was the first to strike, achieving his maiden Premier League goal for Chelsea just nine minutes after Paquetá’s shocker. A driven corner from Neto found Pedro through a crowded box, and his nonchalant nod restored parity.
Pedro Neto then snatched the lead just minutes later, volleying in with venom from an unmarked position after Chalobah’s strong hold-up play created space.
Chelsea’s third came when the 18-year-old Estêvão—thrust into the starting XI at the last moment after Cole Palmer felt something in his warm-up—made an early misstep, giving away possession that led to West Ham’s opener.
Yet he made amends in spectacular fashion with a dazzling run and sublime cross that found Enzo Fernández for a composed finish. That assist also made Estêvão the youngest ever Premier League player to provide one for Chelsea, underscoring the prodigious talent he already possesses.
After the break, Moisés Caicedo extended Chelsea’s lead when he blasted home a wayward attempt from Fernández’s corner—just the reward for his 100th appearance for the club.
Trevoh Chalobah sealed the rout shortly before the hour mark, hooking in from close range after a scramble amid West Ham’s attempted defensive reset.
From the swelling noise of Chelsea supporters to the early departures of frustrated West Ham fans—and even chants calling for the board to take action—London Stadium made clear where the momentum lay.
This result compounds West Ham’s woes: two games, two humiliating defeats, eight goals conceded and not a single point gained. It’s their worst Premier League start since the competition began, casting dark clouds over Potter’s future.
On the other side of the spectrum, Chelsea soared. With Cole Palmer sidelined, the Blues still exhibited clinical control and squad depth, showcasing new signings and emerging talents in one of the most convincing London derbies seen in recent memory.