Estêvão dazzles on debut as five‑star Chelsea flatten West Ham and silence the Palmer doubts

Chelsea absorbed two shocks — losing Cole Palmer in the warm-up and conceding to a Paquetá thunderbolt after Estêvão’s early error — and then produced their most assertive spell of the fledgling season. João Pedro headed in from a corner routine to equalise, Pedro Neto volleyed them in front, and Estêvão’s thrilling burst and cross gave Enzo Fernández a simple finish for 3-1 by the 34th minute. After the break, Moisés Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah both scored from corners as West Ham’s box security collapsed.

The 5-1 victory was Chelsea’s first league win of the campaign after a goalless draw against Crystal Palace and a reminder that this squad is far from “Cole Palmer FC.” Five different scorers underlined the depth of threat, while Fernández and Caicedo ran the midfield. The away end even serenaded their former manager with “there’s only one Graham Potter,” a measure of how comprehensively the visitors took charge after falling behind.

Palmer blow, collective bloom

Enzo Maresca elected not to risk Palmer after he felt his groin in the warm‑up. “In the last four or five days he was not 100%, so we preferred not to take any risk,” said the head coach, later reiterating that while Palmer is Chelsea’s best player, they are not a one‑man team. This performance proved the point.

Estêvão, on his first competitive start, recovered from the sixth‑minute slip that preceded Paquetá’s strike and began to sparkle. His incision down the left carved West Ham open for the third goal, squared for Fernández to tap in. By then the teenager’s confidence on the ball and his directness were stretching the home back line at will.

João Pedro sets the pulse of the attack

The equaliser showcased both planning and poise: Neto’s corner, Cucurella’s deft near‑post flick, and João Pedro’s close‑range header. From there his influence grew. He dispossessed West Ham in the buildup to the second goal, then swung in the cross that Neto volleyed home as Chelsea ran through the hosts’ left side.

Beyond this one game, the Brazilian’s start in blue has been prolific, with four goals and two assists in his first five competitive matches as cited in the coverage. Here, timing and aggressiveness were the hallmarks — first to react in the six‑yard box, then unselfish and accurate from wide areas — the blend that tilted the contest permanently in Chelsea’s favour.

Midfield grip and set‑piece ruthlessness

Fernández and Caicedo dominated James Ward‑Prowse and Tomáš Souček, taking the tempo away from West Ham. One first‑half passage — the pair exchanging a string of short passes with no pressure — spoke to the comfort Chelsea felt. It was control with end product: Fernández arrived to score, Caicedo followed after the interval.

Set pieces iced the performance. The João Pedro equaliser came from a smart corner routine; after half-time, Hermansen failed to claim a delivery and Caicedo tapped into the unguarded goal for 4-1. From the next corner sequence, Chalobah added the fifth. Three goals from corners, five scorers overall — the kind of variety that gives Maresca latitude in how Chelsea break games open.

Game management and depth on display

At 5-1 with more than half an hour to play, Chelsea effectively ‘declared,’ as one report put it, managing the contest without overextending. The visitors kept their shape, moved the ball with calm purpose and denied West Ham any route back beyond hope-for set pieces. The gulf in composure was marked.

There were also minutes for attackers beyond the headline names. Liam Delap led the line from the start, while substitute Jamie Gittens saw action late on. It all fed the sense that Maresca has options to call upon even when sidelined stars are unavailable.

Beyond one man: options and ambition

Maresca’s message post‑match dovetailed with the evidence on the pitch: Palmer elevates Chelsea, but this win flowed from collective quality. The squad already contains substantial talent and, as reported, could yet be supplemented before the deadline, with wide and creative options on the radar — a conversation that would depend on outgoings.

For now, the priority is momentum. World club champions last season, Chelsea have their first league victory on the board and another London derby awaits at Stamford Bridge against Fulham. If this response to early adversity is a marker, Maresca’s side are building the habit of answers rather than excuses.