Chelsea thrash West Ham 5-1 to pile more pressure on Graham Potter

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Chelseas Joao Pedro scores their first goal to equalise after 15 minutes.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Summary

• Chelsea beat West Ham 5-1 after going a goal behind, with goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah.
• Cole Palmer was ruled out before the match due to discomfort, but Estevao Willian replaced him, and Chelsea still performed strongly.
• West Hams manager Graham Potter is under pressure after two heavy defeats, with fans booing and some leaving before halftime, and is favourite for the sack.

AI generated

LONDON - Chelsea came from a goal down to thrash a hapless West Ham United 5-1 on Aug 22 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.