Life away from Stamford Bridge seems to be suiting Chelsea well. Whether by coincidence or not, their most coherent performances appear to come when they are away from the chaos of home. Against West Ham, they were dominant, ruthless, and never troubled.
It was a day to forget for the Hammers, who were utterly lacklustre, offering little resistance to a Chelsea side in full flow. West Ham, fragile and lacking bite, looked like a team adrift, but Chelsea were sharp, with Nicolas Jackson leading the charge.
Jackson’s time at the club has been peculiar, filled with inconsistency, yet he delivered when it mattered, netting twice inside 20 minutes to kill off the contest.
His performance was capped with an assist for Cole Palmer early in the second half, as Chelsea ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Despite this setback, West Ham are still predicted to avoid any relegation fears. According to the Opta Super Computer, the Hammers are forecast to finish 12th in the Premier League, with just a 2.65% chance of going down.
Yet, the early signs this season aren’t promising, as they sit 14th after five games, suffering defeats to Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Manchester City.
West Ham need a significant improvement in performances
While West Ham have had a tough start, there are glaring issues with how the team is being set up. Julen Lopetegui was brought in to bring a more expansive style of play, but his side appears disjointed and without clear structure. The defeat to Chelsea only added to the growing concerns about the direction of the team.
If performances don’t improve, Lopetegui could soon find himself under serious pressure. The team, despite making several summer signings, looks worse than it did under former boss David Moyes.
Bar Crysencio Summerville, none of the new arrivals have made much of an impact, and the fans are growing restless.
Relegation isn’t an immediate concern for now, but without significant improvement, it could soon become a real worry for the Hammers.