West Ham suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium as fans streamed out in droves during the second half. The crushing loss exposed the depth of the crisis engulfing the club, with supporters losing patience after another defensive collapse that saw them concede five goals for the second consecutive match.
Graham Potter's job appears under serious threat following the embarrassing result. The manager, who endured a difficult spell at Chelsea before being sacked, now faces mounting pressure as West Ham's poor start to the season continues with heavy defeats.
Cole Palmer's warm-up injury forced Chelsea to rejig their attack, giving 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Estęvão Willian his first Premier League start. The teenager rose to the occasion brilliantly, showcasing his pace and trickery to help create Enzo Fernández's goal that made it 3-1 in the 33rd minute.
Defensive Crisis
West Ham's set-piece defending proved catastrophic throughout the match. According to the Mirror, four of Chelsea's five goals came from inside the six-yard box, highlighting the fundamental defensive frailties that have plagued Potter's side.
The collapse began early despite Lucas Paquetá's brilliant 25-yard opener in the sixth minute. João Pedro equalised within ten minutes, outmuscling Aaron Wan-Bissaka to meet Marc Cucurella's flick from Pedro Neto's corner, setting the tone for West Ham's defensive capitulation.
Chelsea's superior quality and squad depth overwhelmed the hosts. Goals from Neto, Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah completed the rout, with Enzo Maresca's side looking "stronger, sharper, slicker" throughout.
Fan Revolt
The London Stadium atmosphere turned toxic as supporters aimed furious gestures at Potter near the dugout. A pitch invasion occurred after Chelsea's fifth goal, with security complications arising when multiple fans breached the barriers simultaneously.
David Sullivan, West Ham's largest shareholder, was shown on camera as jeers rang out at half-time. Many supporters have lost patience with Sullivan after an uninspired transfer window, blaming him for the club's poor recruitment strategy.
Potter's managerial record shows concerning statistics, with the Mirror reporting 11 losses in 21 games since taking charge. With West Ham looking like serious relegation candidates after conceding eight goals in their opening two matches, the pressure on the former Chelsea boss continues to intensify.
Sources used: "The Guardian", "Mirror", "GB News", "Daily Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
