Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
February 3, 2025 | 8:00 pm | English Premier League | 2024-25 |
Video
Venue
Stamford Bridge |
---|
Fulham Rd., London SW6 1HS |
1 | 2 |
0 | 0 |
3 | 1 |
0 | 0 |
Recap
Chelsea secured a crucial 2-1 victory over West Ham, moving into the top four with a strong second-half comeback. The match saw Graham Potter face his former side for the first time since being dismissed as Chelsea manager in April 2023, after a seven-month tenure. However, it was Potter’s West Ham side that took the lead in the first half, only for Chelsea to turn the game around following key substitutions by Enzo Maresca.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, making his first start since fracturing his foot in December, capitalised on a misplaced back pass from Chelsea’s Levi Colwill to put the visitors ahead just before the break.
Chelsea struggled in the first half, with a lackluster performance that saw them fail to create meaningful chances. Their best effort came from Cole Palmer, whose free-kick was expertly saved by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Chelsea’s slow and uninspired play in the opening 45 minutes drew criticism, with Gary Neville describing their performance as “pathetic.”
The turning point came early in the second half, as Maresca made four substitutions within the first 15 minutes, which had an immediate impact. In the 64th minute, Pedro Neto, introduced as a substitute, pounced on a loose ball after Enzo Fernandez’s shot was blocked. Despite a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside on Marc Cucurella and a possible foul on Bowen earlier in the build-up, the goal was awarded.
Following the match, Potter noted, “Their first goal was a turning point. We thought there may have been a foul on Jarrod leading up to it. Sometimes, you need those things to go your way.”
Player Ratings:
Chelsea:
- Jorgensen (6)
- James (5)
- Tosin (6)
- Colwill (5)
- Cucurella (6)
- Caicedo (7)
- Fernandez (7)
- Madueke (5)
- Palmer (8)
- Sancho (5)
- Jackson (5)
Subs:
- Guiu (6)
- Neto (7)
- Gusto (6)
- Nkunku (6)
- Chalobah (n/a)
West Ham:
- Areola (7)
- Coufal (6)
- Kilman (6)
- Cresswell (6)
- Wan-Bissaka (6)
- Soucek (6)
- Irving (6)
- Emerson (6)
- Kudus (6)
- Solar (6)
- Bowen (8)
Subs:
- Scarles (6)
- Mavropanos (6)
- Ings (6)
- Orford (6)
- Guilherme (n/a)
Player of the Match:
Cole Palmer