Chelsea delivered a emphatic performance at the London Stadium, dismantling West Ham United 5-1 and intensifying scrutiny on manager Graham Potter following another heavy home defeat.
West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá gave the hosts a dream start with a stunning strike inside six minutes. But Chelsea responded decisively: Joao Pedro scored his first Premier League goal for the club, Pedro Neto volleyed home, and Enzo Fernández added a third with an assist from 18-year-old Estêvão Willian. Chelsea extended their lead with second-half goals from Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah — all within 60 minutes of play.
Despite losing midfield talisman Cole Palmer to a pre-match injury, Chelsea showcased their depth and flair. Estêvão—Palmer’s replacement—impressed with an assist and a composed debut, earning the Man of the Match accolade and becoming the youngest provider of a Premier League assist in club history.
For West Ham, it was another woeful performance, compounding a previous 3-0 loss to promoted Sunderland. Potter’s team has conceded eight goals in two matches, marking the worst defensive start in Premier League history. With only five wins from 20 league games and a rocky home record, his position is increasingly precarious. Potter acknowledged the crisis, taking full responsibility and stressing the urgent need for improvements.
