No Cole Palmer, no problem for Chelsea, as the Blues hammered West Ham United 5-1 on Friday night at the London Stadium to claim their first three points of the Premier League season.
An action-packed first half started in stunning style as Lucas Paqueta rifled West Ham into an early lead, but their advantage did not last long as Chelsea hit back with a quickfire double through Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto to turn the game on its head, before Enzo Fernandez added a third.
It did not take long for Chelsea's scoring to pick back up in the second half, with Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah scoring in quick succession, and while West Ham were improved for the rest of the match, the Blues strolled to a significant 5-1 win.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
The first half highlights why both teams are still in search of reinforcements in the transfer market ahead of the deadline, with each side conceding goals that expose clear weaknesses in their team.
Paqueta's opener simply should have been dealt with better by Robert Sanchez, while West Ham's defence looked far too vulnerable and their midfield appears laboured and too slow for the extreme physicality of the Premier League.
While Chelsea's defence did also look weak during periods of the encounter, their immense attacking ability and depth helped lead them to a comfortable 5-1 victory, with Estevao, Pedro and Neto all ensuring the Blues did not feel the absence of Palmer, who had to drop out of the team prior to kick-off due to an injury concern.
The pace of Estevao and Neto caused real problems for West Ham, while Pedro and Fernandez were picking up brilliant spaces between West Ham's defence and midfield, and the Hammers never worked out how to deal with the two floating attacking midfielders.
As for Graham Potter, there will be real concerns regarding both their defensive fragility and lack of attacking creativity, with almost all of their moves coming from long balls forward and hoping that Jarrod Bowen or Niclas Fullkrug could come up with some magic.
Meanwhile, Maresca will be pleased with how his team responded to going behind, while their free-flowing attacking football was a joy to watch and certainly underlines why many expect the Blues to be in the title race this season.
WEST HAM UNITED VS. CHELSEA HIGHLIGHTS
Lucas Paqueta goal vs. Chelsea (6th min, West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea)
WHAT A GOAL, Lucas Paquetá! ? pic.twitter.com/6GdLFDwiJX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025
Paqueta fires West Ham into the lead with an absolute stunner!
West Ham win the ball back inside Chelsea's half, with El Hadji Malick Diouf quickly laying the ball off to Paqueta in a more central position.
The Brazilian drives toward the Chelsea box, feints to make space and lets a shot fly from long range, swerving past Sanchez and into the top corner - a simply sensational goal from Paqueta!
Joao Pedro goal vs. West Ham United (15th min, West Ham United 1-1 Chelsea)
Joao Pedro scores his first Premier League goal for Chelsea! ? pic.twitter.com/alx8bXW3MJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025
West Ham's lead did not last long - Pedro equalises with his first league goal for Chelsea!
Neto's corner is whipped toward the West Ham front post, where Marc Cucurella is able to flick the ball on deeper into the penalty area.
Pedro jumps highest to meet the flick on and powers his header past the helpless Mads Hermansen, equalising for the Blues.
Pedro Neto goal vs. West Ham United (23rd min, West Ham United 1-2 Chelsea)
Chelsea have turned it around!
Pedro Neto sneaks in at the back post! ? pic.twitter.com/fUyXlFYSNu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025
Neto gives Chelsea the lead - what a remarkable start to this match!
Paqueta loses the ball just outside his own penalty area, and the ball is quickly played into the feet of Pedro inside the West Ham box.
Pedro gets the ball under control and clips a cross towards the back post, where Neto races past the sleeping Aaron Wan-Bissaka and smashes into the net from close range.
Enzo Fernandez goal vs. West Ham United (34th min, West Ham United 1-3 Chelsea)
Enzo Fernandez extends Chelsea's lead! ? pic.twitter.com/8AstUfUGar
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025
Chelsea have a third, brilliant work down the wing from Estevao to set up Fernandez!
The Blues brilliantly work the ball down the right wing, with Estevao receiving the ball from Delap, bursting into the penalty area, toward the byline and crossing.
Estevao's low cross perfectly picks out Fernandez at the back post, and the midfielder comfortably side-foots into the net to give Chelsea their third.
Moises Caicedo goal vs. West Ham United (54th min, West Ham United 1-4 Chelsea)
Caicedo starts the scoring in the second half - that is a horrible mistake from Hermansen!
Fernandez delivers an inswinging corner into the West Ham box, and Hermansen comes to collect, but the keeper fails to keep hold of the ball and spills it inside his area.
The ball drops kindly for Caicedo, who throws a boot at the bouncing ball and prods into the roof of the net to give Chelsea their fourth.
Trevoh Chalobah goal vs. West Ham United (60th min, West Ham United 1-5 Chelsea)
Moisés Caicedo makes it 4-1 and moments after Trevoh Chalobah makes it 5-1 to Chelsea! ? pic.twitter.com/HNXPJRVuS5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2025
Chalobah adds yet another goal to the scoresheet, this is simply unacceptable from West Ham.
Hermansen fails to deal with another Chelsea corner, this time from Neto on the opposite side, and Pedro wins the second ball inside the box.
Pedro's header drops perfectly for Chalobah inside the area, and the defender fires in from close range with his left foot.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOAO PEDRO
Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring for Chelsea on August 22, 2025
Pedro featured as the central attacking midfielder in the absence of Palmer tonight, and the Brazilian certainly produced the goods, scoring one and assisting two of Chelsea's five goals.
Pedro's ability to find spaces between the lines caused massive problems for West Ham, and his end product was unquestionable as he played a key role in every Chelsea attack.
Fellow Brazilian Estevao also deserves a mention, with the youngster replacing Palmer in the team and demonstrating his immense potential, including becoming the youngest player in Chelsea history to assist a Premier League goal.
WEST HAM UNITED VS. CHELSEA MATCH STATS
Possession: West Ham United 40%-60% Chelsea
Shots: West Ham United 12-12 Chelsea
Shots on target: West Ham United 4-7 Chelsea
Corners: West Ham United 7-5 Chelsea
Fouls: West Ham United 7-10 Chelsea
BEST STATS
3 - Lucas Paquetá is only the third player to score West Ham's first goal of a Premier League campaign in two seasons in a row, after Paolo Di Canio (2000-01/2001-02) and Mark Noble (2009-10/2010-11). Blocks. pic.twitter.com/NIHhcOWiHU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 22, 2025
18 - Estêvão is the youngest player in Premier League history to assist a goal for Chelsea (18 years, 120 days). Prodigy. pic.twitter.com/ioWSYXkKtF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 22, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
West Ham's focus will briefly shift away from their dreadful start to the Premier League season as they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will have a week to rest and recover ahead of their third consecutive London derby at the beginning of the Premier League campaign, with the Blues set to face Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
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