Chelsea Goes Top Four After West Ham Defeat

Chelsea has secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham, lifting them back into the Premier League top four and marking the return of former manager Graham Potter to Stamford Bridge.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime due to a goal from Jarrod Bowen, the Blues dug deep to turn the game around. With Manchester City and Newcastle both suffering defeats earlier in the weekend, Chelsea seized the chance to claim all three points.

But substitute Pedro Neto equalised for Enzo Maresca’s side in the second half before Cole Palmer’s cross looped over Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, which took a big deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka to gift the win to the home side.

Bowen, who was out of action since fracturing his foot in a defeat by Liverpool on 29 December, pounced on a misplaced backpass from centre-back Levi Colwill before finishing past Filip Jorgensen to pull Potter’s side ahead in the closing stages of the first half.

Maresca brought on Neto and Marc Guiu early in the second half to turn things around, and it was the former who helped his side find a way back.

Marc Cucurella did well to keep Neto’s deep cross in play for Enzo Fernandez to strike at goal, and the Argentine’s shot was blocked by Vladimir Coufal, only for the Portugal winger to restore parity on the rebound.

Chelsea were much improved after finding the equaliser and an unfortunate intervention from Wan-Bissaka secured the victory for the hosts 10 minutes later.

The result helps Chelsea climb to fourth with 43 points – two more than Manchester City and Newcastle – while Potter’s side remain 15th with 27 points.

Source: BBC Sports