Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Chelsea defeated West Ham 3-0 in a dominant display. Cole Palmer added a third goal, while Jadon Sancho impressed on his first start. West Ham struggled to create chances and were outmatched in midfield.
Chelsea showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity in a convincing 3-0 victory over London rivals West Ham United at the London Stadium. Nicolas Jackson's brace and a Cole Palmer strike sealed the win for Enzo Maresca's side in the early Saturday kickoff.
The Blues asserted their dominance from the outset, with Jackson and Jadon Sancho combining effectively to exploit West Ham's lackluster defending. Jackson's opening goal, just four minutes into the match, set the tone for Chelsea's commanding performance.
Chelsea's second goal was a thing of beauty, as Jackson latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Moises Caicedo and curled a sublime finish past Alphonse Areola with the outside of his boot. The Senegalese striker's clinical finishing and intelligent movement proved too much for the West Ham defense to handle.
Cole Palmer added a third goal shortly after the break, further cementing Chelsea's advantage. The young midfielder slammed home a powerful shot, leaving Areola with no chance. Palmer's goal capped off a superb away performance from Maresca's side, who displayed a cohesive and dynamic attacking threat.
West Ham, on the other hand, struggled to create meaningful chances and were often outmatched in midfield. Mohammed Kudus was a bright spark for the Hammers, but his disallowed goal and Crysencio Summerville's penalty appeal were as good as it got for the home side.
Maresca made three changes to the Chelsea side that defeated Bournemouth, bringing in Sancho for his first start, along with Enzo Fernandez and Tosin Adarabioyo. The changes paid dividends, as Chelsea's attacking trio of Jackson, Sancho, and Palmer caused West Ham's defense all sorts of problems.
Sancho, in particular, impressed on his first start, showcasing his pace, skill, and link-up play with Jackson. The former Manchester United winger played a key role in Chelsea's opening goal and continued to threaten throughout the match.
West Ham's defending was shambolic at times, with Konstantinos Mavropanos caught out of position on numerous occasions. The Greek defender's high pressing allowed Jackson to exploit the space in behind, leading to Chelsea's first goal.
Palmer could have added a second goal shortly after Jackson's opener, but his shot went just wide of the post. However, Chelsea didn't have to wait long for their second, as Jackson found the net again after a brilliant through ball from Caicedo.
The second half saw Chelsea continue to control the game, with Palmer's goal effectively putting the match to bed. Maresca then made a series of substitutions, disrupting the flow of the game but ensuring that his side saw out the victory comfortably.
Overall, it was a dominant performance from Chelsea, who showcased their attacking firepower and defensive resilience. Jackson's brace, Palmer's goal, and Sancho's impressive debut were the highlights of a comprehensive victory that will give Maresca and his team confidence moving forward.
West Ham, on the other hand, have plenty to ponder after a disappointing performance. Lopetegui's side were outmatched in all areas of the pitch and will need to improve significantly if they are to compete with the top teams in the league.
West Ham Player Ratings:
Alphonse Areola (6/10), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (5/10), Konstantinos Mavropanos (2/10), Max Kilman (4/10), Emerson (5/10), Edson Alvarez (3/10), Guido Rodriguez (4/10), Mohammed Kudus (7/10), Lucas Paqueta (5/10), Crysencio Summerville (6/10), Jarrod Bowen (5/10)
Chelsea Player Ratings:
Robert Sanchez (7/10), Wesley Fofana (7/10), Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10), Levi Colwill (7/10), Marc Cucurella (7/10), Moises Caicedo (8/10), Enzo Fernandez (7/10), Noni Madueke (7/10), Cole Palmer (8/10), Jadon Sancho (8/10), Nicolas Jackson (9/10)
Substitutes:
West Ham: Tomas Soucek (6/10), Carlos Soler (5/10), Michail Antonio (6/10), Aaron Cresswell (5/10), Andy Irving (5/10)
Chelsea: Axel Disasi (6/10), Pedro Neto (6/10), Christopher Nkunku (6/10), Joao Felix (6/10), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (N/A)
Manager Ratings:
Julen Lopetegui (2/10), Enzo Maresca (8/10)