NEW DELHI: Nicolas Jackson led Chelsea to a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham, scoring twice to secure the win at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Jackson found the net twice in the first half, while Cole Palmer added a third goal, providing Chelsea with their third win in five Premier League matches under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Jackson’s performance came after Maresca declared him Chelsea’s first-choice striker on Friday, despite Christopher Nkunku’s decisive goal against Bournemouth the previous weekend.
The Senegal striker, who recently extended his contract with Chelsea until 2033, was favored over Nkunku despite calls for the French forward to start after his strong showing against Bournemouth.
Last season, Jackson scored 17 goals but also missed several crucial opportunities. However, he has shown strong form this season, already netting four goals in six appearances in all competitions.
Chelsea have won all three of their away league matches this season, suffering just one defeat, which came against champions Manchester City in their five top-flight games.
Despite reports of a power struggle between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino in the close-season, has made a positive impact.
After finishing sixth and 12th in the last two seasons, there are signs that Maresca could guide Chelsea’s costly but underperforming squad to become top-four contenders.
West Ham’s poor start under new boss Julen Lopetegui has put him under pressure, with fans expressing their frustration well before the final whistle.
West Ham have managed just one win in their five Premier League outings, losing three consecutive home games to start the season.
Chelsea kicked off quickly, with Jackson capitalizing on a defensive lapse in the fourth minute, taking Jadon Sancho’s pass and beating Alphonse Areola easily.
The goal marked Chelsea’s earliest in a Premier League London derby since Daniel Sturridge’s strike against QPR in 2012.
Jackson’s dominance continued as he set up Cole Palmer for a shot that narrowly missed.
Chelsea’s pressure paid off again, with Jackson scoring in the 18th minute after a slick team move and a precise pass from Moises Caicedo.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen epitomized the team’s struggles with a poor shot that soared over the bar from a promising position.
Crysencio Summerville, making his first league start for West Ham, appealed for a penalty after a challenge from Wesley Fofana, but VAR dismissed the claims.
Lopetegui showed his displeasure with his team’s effort by substituting Argentina midfielder Guido Rodríguez before halftime.
However, Rodríguez’s replacement, Thomas Soucek, did not improve the team’s fortunes, missing a chance to score by firing straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, looked rejuvenated, causing problems for the West Ham defense with his dribbling. This was his first Premier League start since May 2023.
Palmer sealed the win for Chelsea in the 47th minute, finishing past Areola after receiving a pass from Jackson.
Jackson found the net twice in the first half, while Cole Palmer added a third goal, providing Chelsea with their third win in five Premier League matches under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Jackson’s performance came after Maresca declared him Chelsea’s first-choice striker on Friday, despite Christopher Nkunku’s decisive goal against Bournemouth the previous weekend.
The Senegal striker, who recently extended his contract with Chelsea until 2033, was favored over Nkunku despite calls for the French forward to start after his strong showing against Bournemouth.
Last season, Jackson scored 17 goals but also missed several crucial opportunities. However, he has shown strong form this season, already netting four goals in six appearances in all competitions.
Chelsea have won all three of their away league matches this season, suffering just one defeat, which came against champions Manchester City in their five top-flight games.
Despite reports of a power struggle between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino in the close-season, has made a positive impact.
After finishing sixth and 12th in the last two seasons, there are signs that Maresca could guide Chelsea’s costly but underperforming squad to become top-four contenders.
West Ham’s poor start under new boss Julen Lopetegui has put him under pressure, with fans expressing their frustration well before the final whistle.
West Ham have managed just one win in their five Premier League outings, losing three consecutive home games to start the season.
Chelsea kicked off quickly, with Jackson capitalizing on a defensive lapse in the fourth minute, taking Jadon Sancho’s pass and beating Alphonse Areola easily.
The goal marked Chelsea’s earliest in a Premier League London derby since Daniel Sturridge’s strike against QPR in 2012.
Jackson’s dominance continued as he set up Cole Palmer for a shot that narrowly missed.
Chelsea’s pressure paid off again, with Jackson scoring in the 18th minute after a slick team move and a precise pass from Moises Caicedo.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen epitomized the team’s struggles with a poor shot that soared over the bar from a promising position.
Crysencio Summerville, making his first league start for West Ham, appealed for a penalty after a challenge from Wesley Fofana, but VAR dismissed the claims.
Lopetegui showed his displeasure with his team’s effort by substituting Argentina midfielder Guido Rodríguez before halftime.
However, Rodríguez’s replacement, Thomas Soucek, did not improve the team’s fortunes, missing a chance to score by firing straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, looked rejuvenated, causing problems for the West Ham defense with his dribbling. This was his first Premier League start since May 2023.
Palmer sealed the win for Chelsea in the 47th minute, finishing past Areola after receiving a pass from Jackson.
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