Nicolas Jackson made it ten goals in 12 Premier League London derbies as the Blues beat West Ham United 3-0 this afternoon.
ackson scored 17 goals in an inconsistent debut season with the Blues and was guilty of missing a number of big chances.
But the 23-year-old has been in fine form at the start of this season and already has four goals in six games in all competitions.
Chelsea have won all three away league games this season, losing only once, against champions Manchester City, in their five top-flight matches.
Despite a reported power struggle between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali behind the scenes, former Leicester boss Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the close-season, has made a strong first impression.
Chelsea’s pressure was relentless and there was a sense of inevitability about their second goal in the 18th minute.
At the climax of a free-flowing move, Moises Caicedo produced a deft pass that pierced the West Ham defence, allowing Jackson to guide a composed finished past Areola.
Jarrod Bowen summed up West Ham’s sluggish start with a woeful shot that ballooned over from a good position.
Making his first league start for West Ham after his close-season move from Leeds, Crysencio Summerville demanded a penalty after Wesley Fofana’s tug sent him sprawling, but VAR rejected the forward’s appeals.
Lopetegui was furious with West Ham’s lethargy and responded by hauling off Argentina midfielder Guido Rodríguez before half-time.
But Rodriguez’s replacement Thomas Soucek hardy improved Lopetegui’s mood when he wastefully fired straight at Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez. Sancho looked revitalised following his loan from Manchester United, causing problems with his nimble dribbling in his first Premier League start since May 2023. Palmer killed off West Ham in the 47th minute as the England forward took Jackson’s pass and slotted past Areola from a tight angle.
