Just two games into the Premier League season, Chelsea came from behind to defeat West Ham 5-1 on Friday, putting pressure on former Blues manager Graham Potter.
Since taking over the reins in January, Potter has only won five of his 21 games, and he has had a terrible start to the new campaign, which included a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.
The home team initially had hope thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s brilliant strike, but they lost.
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez doubled Chelsea’s lead before Joao Pedro scored the opener from a corner.
The nightmare night that new West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah used to profit.
Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time since December 2021 with Victory.
Before kick-off, Chelsea was hit by Cole Palmer’s absence during the warm-up, who was forced to withdraw from Enzo Maresca’s starting lineup as a precaution due to a muscle injury.
Estevao, the Brazilian wonder kid, could show his potential in his first Premier League start following Palmer’s withdrawal.
However, another Brazilian made a spectacular opening score.
Prior to last month’s independent regulatory commission’s ruling last month, Paqueta had been facing a hazy future for two years.
The English Football Association reportedly requested a lifetime ban, but the 27-year-old thanked the club for standing by him.
During a moving moment, Paqueta repeatedly pointed to the badge on his chest after long-range blasting into the top corner.
However, West Ham’s excitement lasted just nine minutes before Chelsea turned the tables.
When Chelsea won the Club World Cup less than six weeks ago, Pedro scored three goals in as many games as he did for the Blues, making himself an instant hero.
The former Brighton forward headed in Marc Cucurella’s flick-on from a corner with a straightforward task.
West Ham initially believed they had taken the lead before Niclas Fuellkrug’s goal was flagged off for offside following a VAR review.
When Pedro picked out Neto for the final goal, the hosts were in a moment before the hosts lost.
Hermansen howls
Estevao has been hailed as one of the brightest young talents in world football after scoring against Chelsea in his final game for the Palmeiras at the Club World Cup.
The 18-year-old showed his explosive pace as he sprinted past the sluggish West Ham defense and into Fernandez’s 3-1 lead in 34 minutes.
During a record-breaking summer transfer window, West Ham have been one of the quietest Premier League clubs.
However, one of the few newcomers started poorly because Hermansen was then to blame for Chelsea’s fourth and fifth goals.
Caicedo prodded into an empty net as the £20 million ($27 million) signing from Leicester turned a corner.
Hermansen’s ball broke nicely for Chalobah to rub salt into West Ham injuries, but the Blues were nowhere to be found.
With over 30 minutes left, thousands of home fans rushed to the exits, but those who remained lustily booed at the final whistle.
Source: Channels TV
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