4 hours ago
19
Just two matches into the season and West Ham is already in a full-blown crisis.
The Hammers' supporters turned on their own players, booing them off at half time and then leaving in droves during the second half as the match descended into total humiliation. This leaves West Ham manager Graham Potter, who is under significant pressure, battling to keep his job amidst a toxic atmosphere inside the London Stadium.
Chelsea was dominant as they tore West Ham apart and, astonishingly, four of their five goals came from within the six-yard box, highlighting the disastrous defending. West Ham's new £18M ($24.3M) goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had another poor performance and the truth is it could have been an even more crushing defeat as normal service has resumed for both clubs.
Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez scored in a one-sided first half before Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah added to the damage after the break.
West Ham already appears to be bracing themselves for another turbulent season as they look like relegation candidates having lost their season opener at newly-promoted Sunderland.
Potter, who has only been in charge for 21 games and lost 11, already seems out of ideas. They were a complete mess at the back and the squad is in desperate need of reinforcements.
However, you can't really lay the blame at Potter's feet for that.
Meanwhile, Chelsea was sharp, dangerous and full of threat and, incredibly, it ran West Ham ragged even without star player Cole Palmer, who injured a hamstring in the warm-up.
The newly-crowned Club World Cup victors, who failed to score against Crystal Palace last week, were in full force this time around, given free rein at the London Stadium.
Palmer's last-minute withdrawal could have easily thrown a spanner in Enzo Maresca's plans, but stepping up was Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian, who appears to be a rising star.
Remarkably, Chelsea handed West Ham an early advantage when 18-year-old Estevao had a tough start to his Premier League debut, losing possession with a flashy flick.
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta seized the opportunity, launching an extraordinary long-range shot that dipped, curled and swerved past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez into the top corner within just six minutes.
Under different circumstances, it would have been a fantastic tale. Paqueta, cleared of spot-fixing charges after a two-year FA investigation, caught Sanchez off guard once again.
However, Chelsea equalised just 15 minutes into the game. Neto's near post corner was deflected by diminutive full-back Marc Cucurella, allowing Pedro to head home from close range.
Chelsea took the lead after 23 minutes. Pedro found room on the right, delivered a cross, and there was Neto, unmarked at the back post, scoring the goal.
Estevao fully redeemed himself after 34 minutes with a lightning-fast run down the right, cutting the ball back for Fernandez to score from point-blank range.
The situation deteriorated after the break. Hermansen's feeble punch gave Caicedo an opportunity, who then scored from 15 yards out, the ball ricocheting off the underside of the bar.
Chalobah sealed the victory with another goal from close range, capitalising on West Ham's failure to clear Neto's corner.
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