Chelsea responded to an early scare at the London Stadium with a five-goal salvo against West Ham, in a match that showcased both their attacking depth and the fragility of the Hammers’ defensive setup.
Lucas Paquetá’s stunning strike gave Graham Potter’ men the perfect start — his first since being cleared of spot-fixing charges by the FA — but Mauricio Pochettino’s side responded with ruthless efficiency. João Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah all found the net, ensuring the Blues ran out 5–1 winners despite Cole Palmer being withdrawn minutes before kick-off.
The result leaves Chelsea pushing up the table, while West Ham’s defensive errors, particularly from new goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, will be a major concern heading into a tough run of fixtures.
How the Goals Went In
- 6’ – West Ham 1–0 Chelsea: Lucas Paquetá unleashed a brilliant swerving strike from range, celebrating passionately with the home crowd by kissing the badge.
- 15’ – West Ham 1–1 Chelsea: João Pedro headed in from close range after Marc Cucurella flicked on a corner — his first Premier League goal.
- 23’ – West Ham 1–2 Chelsea: Pedro Neto finished superbly after a sharp assist from João Pedro.
- 34’ – West Ham 1–3 Chelsea: Willian Estevão, on his full debut, dribbled past two defenders before squaring for Enzo Fernández to slot home. At 18, Estevão became the youngest Chelsea player ever to register an assist in the Premier League.
- 54’ – West Ham 1–4 Chelsea: Hermansen spilled a corner, allowing Moisés Caicedo to pounce and extend the lead.
- 58’ – West Ham 1–5 Chelsea: A near carbon-copy from another corner saw Chalobah punish Hermansen again to complete the rout.
Chelsea then controlled possession, allowing West Ham harmless territory while comfortably seeing out the win.
Key Stats – West Ham vs Chelsea
| Stat | West Ham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 39.7% | 60.3% |
| xG | 1.06 | 2.91 |
| Shots | 12 | 12 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 7 |
| Touches in Opp. Box | 19 | 29 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 2 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 7 | 10 |
| Corners | 7 | 5 |
source: Opta / BBC Match Stats – 22 August 2025
Chelsea created the higher xG (2.91 vs 1.06) and dominated possession with 60.3%, while West Ham’s main threat came from set-pieces and Paquetá’s moments of quality.
Analyst Verdict
This was a tale of composure versus chaos. Chelsea’s ability to settle after Palmer’s withdrawal and recover from an early deficit highlights the growing maturity of Pochettino’s squad. João Pedro’s work rate and Estevão’s creativity stood out, with the teenager looking fearless in his first full start.
West Ham, meanwhile, were undone by Hermansen’s handling errors. While Wilson’s cameo offered some encouragement, the lack of defensive resilience leaves Potter with urgent issues to address. Against sides with Chelsea’s quality, small mistakes become crushing.
Key Insights
- Lucas Paquetá scored his first goal since FA cleared him of spot-fixing charges
- Estevão became Chelsea’s youngest Premier League assister at 18
- João Pedro scored and assisted in an impressive display
- Hermansen at fault for two Chelsea goals from corners
- Chelsea dominated possession (60.3%) and box entries (29 vs 19)
What’s Next
Chelsea turn their attention to a tough midweek clash with Fulham, where Maresca will hope Estevão can build on his record-breaking start.
West Ham, meanwhile, face Nottingham Forest, with Potter under pressure to tighten up at the back and give Hermansen confidence after a nightmare afternoon.
Is Willian Estevão already Chelsea’s breakout star of the season — and should West Ham stick with Hermansen or turn to experience?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 22 Aug 2025 22:08
We started bad, but thank god a good recovery I know last season would be tough to get a win, but wow so much changed! So happy with the new players, for me João Pedro was the MOTM. Estevao was sloppy when he lost the bal with that amazing strike of Paqueta and he should have scored in the second half, overal a good game from Estevao.
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