FOOTBALL – Chelsea came from a goal behind to thrash West Ham United 5-1 last night and pile more pressure on home manager Graham Potter after two heavy Premier League defeats in as many matches.
Lucas Paqueta got the hosts off to a dream start when he unleashed a swirling shot past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with six minutes on the clock but Chelsea hit back in the 15th through a Joao Pedro header and the floodgates opened.
After West Ham had a Niclas Fullkrug effort ruled offside, Pedro Neto sent Chelsea ahead on the volley in the 23rd and Enzo Fernandez made it 3-1 from close range on 34 after a pass from Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian.
Moises Caicedo added a fourth in the 54th, after goalkeeper Mads Hermansen pushed the ball to him off a corner, and Trevoh Chalobah became the fifth Chelsea player on the London Stadium scoresheet four minutes later.
Pedro’s goal, with the ball flicked on by Marc Cucurella off a corner, was the Brazilian’s first in the league for the Blues since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion last month.
The commanding scoreline in the cross-town London derby came despite Chelsea’s midfield talisman Cole Palmer being ruled out after he felt discomfort on the pitch during the pre-match warmup.
Manager Enzo Maresca told reporters the England international had “felt something” and went off as a precaution, with Estevao taking his place and Chelsea hitting their stride regardless.
The visitors were also without striker Nicolas Jackson, who was left out of the squad despite being available as the West Londoners await a possible transfer.
The result came as a welcome relief for the Club World Cup champions after their goalless opening draw against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
It only deepened the sense of foreboding at West Ham, already added to the list of possible relegation candidates after a 3-0 drubbing at promoted Sunderland in their opening game.
Former Chelsea manager Potter, a teammate of Maresca at West Bromwich Albion in the 1990s when they shared rides to training, was the bookmakers’ favourite even before kickoff to be first for the sack.
Some West Ham fans were already heading for the exits before the break, with boos greeting the halftime whistle, and the exodus continued in the second half as the rout continued and Chelsea coasted to an easy win.
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