West Ham 3-1 Chelsea: What Were The Main Talking Points As Mauricio Pochettino Suffers His First Chelsea Defeat At The London Stadium?

Picking up London bragging rights on Sunday afternoon, West Ham put in a famous performance on home soil as they landed a 3-1 victory against Chelsea.

Opening the scoring after just seven minutes as Nayef Aguerd powered home at the back post, the Hammers couldn’t have dreamt of a better start.

However, with ex-Aston Villa starlet Carney Chukwuemeka powering home midway through the first-half, it appeared that Mauricio Pochettino had a golden chance to pick up a first Premier League victory as Chelsea boss.

Nevertheless, with midfield talisman Enzo Fernandez missing from the penalty spot just a couple of minutes before the half-time interval, the Blues failed to find any kind of stability during the second-half.

Even with Aguerd shown a second booking in the 67th minute, Chelsea failed to create any clearcut chances and eventually paid the price as Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta completed what was a stunning victory for the Hammers.

Now losing just one of their last seven straight showdowns against Chelsea at the London Stadium, we have taken a look at the main talking points following Sunday’s action-packed affair.

The Hammers have their sights set on mounting another European charge

While West Ham might have made major history last season as they were crowned Europa Conference League champions, it is fair to say that David Moyes’ men endured a downbeat domestic campaign.

Shockingly at the heart of a Premier League relegation scrap on either side of the World Cup’s winter break, the one-time Manchester United boss has been vocal about his side bouncing back this time around.

Getting the 2023/24 campaign underway with a 1-1 stalemate away at Bournemouth last weekend, the Hammers will undoubtedly take away a string of positives from a famous performance at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Making quite the statement on home soil and now losing just a single showdown against their London rivals at the London Stadium since way back in March 2017, West Ham will now be dreaming of the chance to mount another genuine European charge.

Appearing to keep hold of Brazilian playmaker Paqueta and with Moyes insisting that new arrivals will come through the door before the summer transfer window slams shut, the Hammers will be desperate to use Sunday’s display as a platform to build on.

While it might be Chelsea’s latest struggle that could steal most of the headlines here, Moyes’ men will certainly feel that they were a deserved winner in east London.

Pochettino will know that he certainly has work to do

Enduring what was a public Premier League nightmare last season as they had to settle for an infamous bottom-half finish, it is no secret that Chelsea have been at the heart of another major transition this summer.

Turning to ex-Tottenham boss Pochettino in an attempt to steady their sinking ship, fans around west London are more than aware that the Argentinian tactician has a major job on his hands in SW6.

While the Blues might have opened the 2023/24 campaign with a lively 1-1 draw at home against Liverpool last weekend, Sunday’s guests have once again shown many of the same issues that haunted them last season.

Despite breaking the bank again this summer and coming under a huge amount of scrutiny for their approach in the transfer market, Chelsea’s superstar squad have still failed to gel and have not found any kind of fluidity across the pitch.

Left frustrated earlier in the week as it was announced that England international and defensive talisman Reece James faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines, Pochettino’s men have plenty of pressure on their shoulders.

Still waiting to pick up a first victory under the one-time Southampton manager, Chelsea could be set for a frantic end to the summer transfer window.

JWP shows that he can fill Rice’s void

With many around the London Stadium left heartbroken last month as it was confirmed that Declan Rice had completed his £100million move to Arsenal, many were wondering how the Hammers would fair without their midfield icon.

However, although Moyes might have stated that it would be impossible for his side to replace their now-former skipper, West Ham’s latest midfield star certainly impressed on Sunday afternoon.

Making the move from Southampton last week in a £30million deal, James Ward-Prowse took just seven minutes to record his first Premier League assist in Claret and Blue as he produced a trademark delivery.

Becoming the first West Ham player in Premier League history to record a pair of top-flight assists on his full debut, the England international appears to be a budding success in east London.

Renowned for his world-class set-piece delivery and making an immediate impact this weekend, Ward-Prowse could be the perfect option to fill Rice’s void in the middle of the park.

Match Report

West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Antonio

Subs: Alvarez, Ogbonna, Fornals

Chelsea: Sanchez, Días, Silva, Colwill, Chillwell, Gallagher, Fernandez, Gusto, Sterling, Chukwuemeka, Jackson

Subs: Burstow, Caicedo, Madueke, Mudryk

Goals: West Ham: Aguerd (7’), Antonio (53’), Paqueta (90+5’ P) – Chelsea: Chukwuemeka (28’)

Yellow Cards: West Ham: Aguerd, Paqueta, Emerson – Chelsea: Diasi, Jackson, Chukwuemeka

Red Cards: Aguerd (67’)

Referee: John Brooks