By Samuel A. May 5, 2024
Chelsea produced a surprising, yet, impressive attacking performance to thrash West Ham 5-0, raising further questions about David Moyes’ future at the club.This week, the Hammers already opened talks with a couple managers, including Julen Lopetegui about taking over from Moyes when the Scot’s contract expires in June. Chelsea, who already look rejuvenated, were rampant as they racked up a second convincing home win in three days, scoring seven goals and conceding zero.
Cole Palmer notched a 21st league goal of the season when he powered home the first inside 15 minutes, with Conor Gallagher and Starman Noni Madueke wrapping up victory before halftime. West Ham did hit the bar twice through Jarrod Bowen in the first half, however, they were wretched defensively. Things went from bad to worse as the Hammers were caught out yet again two minutes into the second period when Madueke squared for Nicolas Jackson to add a fourth.
Jackson doubled his tally from yet another Chelsea break 10 minutes from time when a VAR check overruled an initial offside flag against the Senegal striker, in one final painful moment of a miserable afternoon for Moyes and West Ham, as they shipped five for the second time in three games.
The statement victory moves Chelsea above Manchester United in the Premier League table, and very much in contention for qualification for Europe. The two managers had come into Sunday’s game with question marks over their futures, but despite that, the form of the respective clubs could not have been more glaring, and it showed once Palmer rifled in the opener when Madueke’s cross deflected into his path. West Ham had started as the better side until that point and were inches from an instant equaliser when Djordje Petrovic’s weak punch was turned onto the bar by Bowen.
Chelsea took control from then though, and cut the Hammers apart at will. A second felt inevitable, and it came when Gallagher’s similarly powerful finish beat Areola after Madueke’s mis-control in the box. Most of the West Ham supporters had long gone by that point, having booed their side off at halftime, with the recriminations after conceding five goals for the fourth time this season already underway.
