Chelsea boosted their chances of European football next season, thumping West Ham 5-0 in the Premier League, with Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson, with two, all getting on the scoresheet.
The 21-year-old Palmer latched on to a loose ball after a Madueke cross in the 15th minute and shot into the far corner across West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. It was his 21st league goal in his first season for the club.
Captain Gallagher also took advantage of a loose ball in the area following a tackle on Madueke and lashed his chance home on the half hour with West Ham’s defence in disarray.
Madueke turned from provider to scorer, and back, either side of halftime. He poked home from close range in the 36th minute following a corner and teed up Jackson for Chelsea’s fourth in the 48th.
Jackson scored his second 10 minutes from time after latching on to a deep pass from Moises Caicedo and staying just onside according to a VAR check.
The result raised Chelsea to seventh in the table overtaking Manchester United, who play on Monday, and putting them within striking range of qualification for the Europa League.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Chelsea vs West Ham United LIVE: Premier League updates
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FULL TIME! Chelsea go above Man Utd on sorry day for West Ham
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80’ GOAL! Jackson doubles up to make it five for Chelsea (CHE 5-0 WHU)
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48’ GOAL! Chelsea score at start of second half through Jackson (CHE 4-0 WHU)
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36’ GOAL! Noni Madueke taps in as Chelsea cruise (CHE 3-0 WHU)
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29’ GOAL! Conor Gallagher arrives to double Chelsea’s lead (CHE 2-0 WHU)
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15’ GOAL! Cole Palmer scores again to give Chelsea the lead (CHE 1-0 WHU)
Chelsea FC 5 – 0 West Ham United FC
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:58
Chelsea recorded their biggest Premier League win of the season and moved above Manchester United to seventh. It isn’t where they want to be but they are on the right path and today should the improvement they have made, with a 5-0 battering of West Ham, and the xG shows the dominance, 4.13 v 1.02 in the Blues’ favour. Palmer got Chelsea underway, with Gallagher and Madueke adding to the attacker’s 21st league goal before the break. Jackson then completed the fine performance with a brace and at times Pochettino’s side had to ride their luck. Bowen hit the crossbar three times, and former Chelsea full-back Emerson hit a wild shot over from a good position. West Ham have hit a horrific run of form, extending their winless run to six as European football slips away from them. Thanks for joining us and goodbye!
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:55
FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 5-0 WEST HAM
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:55
Bowen has one last chance to get his goal but his volley is dragged wide before Gusto gets in the way. It just has not been his day.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:52
Ther is five minutes of added time here.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:49
Bowen takes a touch on the edge of the box and is ready to shoot but Gallagher gets in front of him to get the ball off him. Gusto then wins a free-kick off Ings.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:49
Substitution Cole Jermaine Palmer Alfie Gilchrist
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:47
THAT’S A HAT-TRICK FOR BOWEN! He has hit the crossbar for a third time, and he has been so unfortunate today. He meets the rebound and it just crashes the crossbar. West Ham have been poor but they should have had at least one goal.
GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 West Ham (Jackson 80’)
15:44 , Jamie Braidwood
Rout complete! With that, Jackson has his 16th of the season, which is as many as Didier Drogba managed in his first Chelsea campaign.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:42
Substitution Trevoh Thomas Chalobah Malo Arthur Gusto
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:42
Substitution Thiago Emiliano da Silva Axel Wilson Arthur Disasi Mhakinis Belho
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:40
Jackson races through and scores, but the flag is up. He is waving his finger and the replays make it look tight. It was a cool finish from the Senegalese forward, and there is a VAR check ongoing.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:36
Paqueta is sitting on the turf receiving treatment. It doesn’t look like he will carry on and Chelsea also look to be making subs as well.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:36
Substitution Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima Aaron William Cresswell
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:35
Substitution Mykhailo Mudryk Christopher Alan Nkunku
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:35
Madueke has had one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt. He has been a goal threat, direct but also so creative. He has forged five chances for his teammates this game, the highest he has achieved during his time at Chelsea.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:34
WOW! What a chance for Mudryk. The Ukrainian races onto Palmer’s clipped-through ball but can’t beat Areola. The Frenchman has been West Ham’s best player and he ahs conceded four goals.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:30
Substitution Michail Gregory Antonio Daniel William John Ings
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:28
Paqueta leaps highest to connect with the corner but can’t direct his header and it goes flying wide. He did well to win it at the near post but missed the clinical touch.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:26
Areola has been so busy today and he denies Madueke again. The Englishman cuts in and tries to creep a shot into the near post but Areola is alert and denies him well.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:25
It is so easy for Chelsea now. Palmer sprays the ball to Madueke who charges at his defender before playing it back to Chelsea’s top goal scorer. He couldn’t add to his 21 goals as he hit a bobbling shot goalwards.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:22
Chelsea are full of confidence and from that passing move they created a shooting chance for Madueke but he had his shot blocked. He then gets the ball again and plays a tantalising ball across the box but no one is there for Chelsea.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:19
Chelsea are just keeping the ball here and getting everyone involved, just waiting for an opening. They aren’t in any rush with such a healthy buffer.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:15
This could be another chance for West Ham. There is a free-kick just on the edge of the box after Caicedo’s foul. Ward-Prowse has obviously picked up the ball, and forced Petrovic into flicking it over the bar.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 West Ham (Jackson 48′)
15:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Chelsea start where they left off as Madueke squares to Jackson to score the fourth of the afternoon.
The West Ham end is almost empty already.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:13
WHAT A CHANCE FOR EMERSON. Paqueta plays a delicate pass into the Italian and he has time and space but just fires it over Petrovic’s goal. A wasteful effort.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:12
Mudryk has a strong attempt and whips a shot from just outside the box but Areola manages to get across and stop the effort.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:07
Goal Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:05
We are back underway here and it looks like Moyes is making a change.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:05
Substitution Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez James Michael Edward Ward-Prowse
Chelsea vs West Ham United
15:05
A pretty dominant display from Pochettino’s side and it looks as if he has found a system that has bought the best out of his players. He wanted time and he has proven why he should as he has delivered two solid performances against London rivals. They are getting closer to the European football places if they can see it out, but they should expect a different West Ham team to turn up in the second half because they haven’t been a threat outside of corner kicks.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:52
What a half from Chelsea! Three goals up and it could have been a lot more. Palmer opened the scoring by latching onto a loose ball to fire past Areola, and then Gallagher doubled the lead with a fierce volley. Bowen hit the crossbar twice from corners but Chelsea have been by far the better team and added a third through Madueke’s header. Moyes needs to change something drastically because Gallagher had another chance to score but hit the crossbar from close range, and Chelsea storm into a great lead.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:50
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 3-0 West Ham
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:48
Yellow Card Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:48
Palmer steps up to take it and hits it straight into the wall. Not his best effort.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:46
West Ham hit the crossbar! It just isn’t their day today. Chelsea made a mess of clearing the corner and Bowen cannons the woodwork. A let off for Chelsea.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:45
Yellow Card Emerson Palmieri dos Santos
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:45
Gallagher gives away another free kick this time on Bowen. He has been all over the place, he could have had three goals and probably three yellow cards. He has one goal and zero yellow cards for now.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:43
Gallagher has just had two great chances in a matter of minutes. He hits the crossbar from close range and then on the second attempt takes to long and gets tackled. West Ham survive but half-time needs to come quickly for Moyes.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:39
Yellow Card Marc Cucurella Saseta
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 West Ham (Madueke 36’)
14:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Chelsea are flying!
Noni Madueke makes it three goals to the Blues before half-time! The winger gets a touch on Thiago Silva’s header.
It’s going to be a long afternoon for West Ham.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:38
Goal Chukwunonso Tristan Madueke
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:36
Yellow Card Angelo Obinze Ogbonna
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:34
Another wave of Chelsea attacks comes. Madueke shifts the ball onto his right foot, but it was a timid effort and Areola claims the ball.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 West Ham (Gallagher 29’)
14:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Chelsea double their lead on the half-hour mark!
And it’s a very popular goalscorer at Stamford Bridge as Conor Gallagher arrives to lash in.
The Chelsea fans unveiled a banner in tribute to Gallagher on Thursday night and that’s their reward.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:32
Goal Conor John Gallagher
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:30
Palmer tries an effort from distance. He is the difference maker so far but he hasn’t been overly involved and this shot floats over the bar.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:29
A rapid counter-attack is led by Madueke for Chelsea. He runs into space and plays Jackson through who, from a tight angle, forces Areola into a save.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:26
Gallagher gets the ball taken off him by Antonio and the forward quickly gets bundled into by Gallagher. He has done that twice now and could be close to a booking.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:25
Jackson has his first effort, although it was a challenging effort. The cross was just too high for him and the ball glanced off his head with little aim.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:22
Madueke has a shot from the edge of the box and it is deflected for a corner, and Areola is forced to save a close-range header from Chalobah.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 West Ham (Palmer 15’)
14:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Cole Palmer’s 21st Premier League goal of the season and 30th goal involvement.
He also matches the Chelsea record for most home goals in a Premier League seaosn, matching the 16 scored by Didier Drogba in 2006/07 and Frank Lampard in 2009/10.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:19
Assist Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:19
Cole Palmer has now scored or assisted against 14 different Premier League opponents this season for Chelsea, only six other players have done that for the Blues. The most recent? Eden Hazard. Not bad company to be in.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:15
Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:14
Kudus evades the challenge from Palmer well and then moves past Gallagher, or so he thought until he gets clattered into by the Chelsea captain and wins a free-kick. It has been a slow start in terms of chances here.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:13
Chelsea try to catch West Ham out with a free-kick and play Jackson out wide. He flashes his cross across the box and Areola parries it out for a corner.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:11
Over the past couple of games, Cucurella has popped up in midfield when Chelsea attack and he is here again sitting centrally. He has been really dangerous since the tactical switch and finds Madueke with the ball just outside the box, but he is tackled.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:08
West Ham have the first corner of the game after Thiago Silva just knicks the ball off of Kudus. Chelsea managed to clear it away though..
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:07
A surging run from Caicedo through West Ham’s midfield ends with Jackson unable to control the midfielder’s pass. It was a poor touch from the forward who could have been in if he controlled it.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:05
Coufal is adamant he got the ball but Mudryk’s face suggests otherwise as he grimaces after a firm challenge from the Czech international. Free-kick to Chelsea just inside their own half.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:02
Gallagher gets us underway here at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea vs West Ham United
14:00
Chelsea have only won once in their last 13 Premier League games on Sunday, so that should be David Moyes’ team talk done. The teams are coming out now for this London clash.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:55
Chelsea aren’t the only team that are celebrating a veteran centre-back in this game. Ogbonna is making his 200th appearance in the Premier League and if we thought Silva’s longevity in the Premier League was impressive, the Italian may just top it. It is his ninth season at the club, and he partners Zouma at the back. Earthy returns to the bench after that horrific injury he sustained against Fulham in April, so that is good to see. The front line is a menacing proposition as well with Kudus, Bowen and Paqueta all having great season and will look to be finishing strongly ahead of the summer.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:50
Thiago Silva starts after missing Chelsea’s midweek win against Spurs and he will get a massive reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd after he announced his departure on Monday. He has been a great servant to the club, and the fact he is still here (and starting!) speaks volumes about his dedication and ability at 39 years of age. He isn’t the only player to return as Chelsea see a huge chunk of the 14 absentees on Thursday return to their bench, including Nkunku. He has had a tough start in west London but he will hope to get back on the pitch and remind everyone why they splashed the cash on him.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:45
SUBSTITUTES: Kaelan Casey, Maxwell Cornet, Aaron Cresswell, George Earthy, Lukasz Fabianski, Danny Ings, Ben Johnson, Divin Mubama, James Ward-Prowse.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:45
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Emerson, Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Vladimír Coufal; Edson Álvarez, Tomás Soucek; Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá, Jarrod Bowen; Michail Antonio.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:45
SUBSTITUTES: Marcus Bettinelli, Cesare Casadei, Levi Colwill, Deivid Washington, Axel Disasi, Alfie Gilchrist, Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:39
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1) Djordje Petrovic; Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah; Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo; Mykhailo Mudryk, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:39
For West Ham, the mood isn’t as good as the table would suggest. They are one place below their London rivals, and if they win today they will go above the Blues, so not completely doom and gloom for the Irons, but it does seem like we are heading into the final three games of the David Moyes’ era at West Ham. Well, his second era, and this one has been far more successful, although in either of those spells and when in charge of Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland he has never won a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Now would be a good time to change that.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:39
What a return to winning ways for Mauricio Pochettino and his Chelsea team on Thursday. He said it was his “happiest win” after beating his former side, and you can see why it was a strong showing that had seen them move within three points of sixth place, but after Newcastle’s dismantling of Burnley yesterday the gap has now increased to five. A win is vital if they want to finish in Europe and if you said that a couple months ago then most people wouldn’t have believed you, but Chelsea have started to turn it around, especially at home.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:34
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Chelsea’s Premier League match against West Ham.
Chelsea vs West Ham United
13:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…