Chelsea offered a glimpse of what could be to come under Graham Potter, but had to settle for a hard-fought draw at the London Stadium in a result that suited neither West Ham or the visitors.
Potter’s side were the stronger side from the outset, and Joao Felix saw an early goal ruled out for offside as the Blues pushed for an opener.
Injury to Lucas Paqueta further hampered West Ham’s chances of getting into the game, and the Blues grabbed the goal that their early dominance deserved when deadline day addition Enzo Fernandez found fellow January addition Joao Felix at the back post, who provided a delicate volleyed finish.
Joao Felix fires home his first Premier League goal! ⚽
The assist from Enzo Fernandez 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/kp3c3bBV5K
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 11, 2023
Kai Havertz thought that he had doubled the lead minutes later, only for the offside flag to come to West Ham’s rescue once more as Chelsea threatened to run away with the game in the early stages of the first half.
West Ham spluttered into life, however. An attempted backheel from Michail Antonio forced a fine save from Kepa, but their second shot on target proved too good for the Spaniard as Emerson Palmeiri stole in at the back post against his former club to bundle in an equaliser.
Emerson equalises for West Ham against his former club! ⚽
Great flick from Jarrod Bowen and he’s in the right place at the right time! 💥 pic.twitter.com/V7GhwZrQqh
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 11, 2023
The second half began in a much more even fashion, with Chelsea dominating the ball but West Ham looking dangerous on the counter-attack. It was a 45 minutes devoid of many clear chances, with neither side managing to test the goalkeeper for much of the encounter.
It was then the turn of the Blues to feel aggrieved by the technology, with a seemingly stonewall handball by Tomas Soucek inside the West Ham box not given on the pitch, and failing to be overturned by the video assistant.
It ended all square, a result that suited neither side with the Blues remaining ninth in the table, and West Ham still too close to the drop zone for their and David Moyes’ liking.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player Ratings
West Ham (5-2-2-1)
- GK: Lukasz Fabianski (6) – Was solid with what little he had to do.
- RWB: Vladamir Coufal (6) – Lucky to get away without being booked on two occasions before he finally saw yellow. Was otherwise solid against the dangerous Mudryk.
- RCB: Thilo Kehrer (6) – One of his better performances in a West Ham shirt, and looks much more comfortable in a back three.
- CB: Angelo Ogbonna (7) – Looked strong in the heart of the Irons defence, and was West Ham’s best defender on the day.
- LCB: Nayef Aguerd (6) – Lost Joao Felix for the Chelsea goal but was otherwise solid for David Moyes’ side.
- LWB: Emerson Palmeiri (8) – Kept the Chelsea right-side very quiet and popped up with a goal in a strong showing from the Italian defender.
- CM: Declan Rice (8) – Oozed class in the middle of the West Ham midfield, and hardly put a foot wrong shielding his defence.
- CM: Lucas Paqueta (6) – Looked bright and showed nice feet early on but suffered a shoulder injury after ten minutes and couldn’t carry on.
- RW: Jarrod Bowen (7) – Tidy going forwards and will feel hard done by not to get a foul for the Chelsea opener. Beginning to show signs of coming out of his slump of form, which will please the Hammers no end.
- ST: Michail Antonio (7) – Held the ball up well and helped cause chaos when West Ham counter-attacked. Unlucky to be taken off.
- LW: Said Benrahma (5) – Couldn’t really have an impact on the game and was taken off after 70 minutes.
Substitutes
- Tomas Soucek (7) – Came on in the first half but was largely excellent alongisde Declan Rice even if he lacks the technical quality that Paqueta offers. Very lucky not to concede a penalty.
- Danny Ings (6) – Couldn’t offer the same link up play that Michail Antonio could when he replaced the Jamaican.
- Flynn Downes (5) – Like Benhrama, struggled to get into the game when he came on.
- Ben Johnson (7) – Didn’t put a foot wrong when coming on late in the piece.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Kepa (6) – Had very little to do but did so with little fuss. Could do nothing about the equalising goal.
- RB: Reece James (5) – Switched off for the West Ham equaliser and, one dead ball aside, offered little in the final third either.
- CB: Thiago Silva (6) – Continues to ooze class at the back for the blues, and barely put a foot wrong, although he was rarely tested.
- CB: Benoit Badiashile (7) – Dealt with Antonio really well for the most part. The one time he got turned he picked up a booking, but looks a very savvy addition to the Chelsea backline.
- LB: Marc Cucurella (4) – Allowed the cross for the equaliser in far too easily and never really offered anything going forwards, while actively hampering the Chelsea build-up.
- CDM: Enzo Fernandez (7) – Produced a lovely ball for the Chelsea opener and looked tidy on the ball, though West Ham opted to give him the freedom of the London Stadium.
- CDM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (6) – Looked energetic in the opening stages of the game but faded as the tie went on.
- RM: Noni Madueke (6) – Looked threatening but could never find any end product.
- CAM: Joao Felix (8) – The brightest player on the pitch for the Blues, he caused the West Ham plenty of problems in the first half, though he was dealt with better in the second.
- LM: Mykhaylo Mudryk (6) – Never got the ball in the sort of areas that he wanted, but wasn’t helped by Cucurella behind him.
- ST: Kai Havertz (7) – Looked much better with quality around him and was only denied a goal by the offside flag.
Substitutes
- Ben Chilwell (5) – Was more threatening than Cucurella when he came on.
- Hakim Ziyech (5) – Added nothing going forwards and
- Mason Mount (5) – Tidy but could never find the killer pass.
- Conor Gallagher (5)- Brought energy but little quality in midfield.
Expert Analysis
“We’re winning away, how sh*t must you be, we’re winning away,” chant Chelsea’s away end. No away win since mid-October for the Blues, of course. #CFC #WHCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 11, 2023
Chelsea are bossing this game but can a West Ham player PLEASE pressure Enzo Fernandez, he’s played 25 passes already, including an assist, but he’s getting so much room in pockets of space.
— 𝔼𝕌ℝ𝕆 (@EuroExpert_) February 11, 2023
1-1 Emerson against his old club. Ironically, error from Cucurella put Chelsea under pressure. #CFC #WHUCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 11, 2023
#Chelsea have named seven starters below the age of 24 against West Ham [Madueke, Badiashile, Fernández, Mudryk, James, Felix, Havertz] – their most ever in a starting XI for a Premier League game.
[via @OptaJoe]
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) February 11, 2023
Felix touch map vs WHU after 50 minutes – he’s been absolutely everywhere. pic.twitter.com/5kGXjsfNJJ
— 𝔼𝕌ℝ𝕆 (@EuroExpert_) February 11, 2023
Chelsea have looked unconvincing defending set pieces throughout this match.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 11, 2023
Two wins in 13 PL games for Chelsea.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) February 11, 2023
Fan reaction
Great response from West Ham, but please don’t sit off a player of Enzo Fernandez’s qualities and allow him to create from deeper areas. It won’t end well.
— Dan Woffenden (@danwoff98) February 11, 2023
If that is Trent with Reece James’ positioning there he gets absolutely crucified
— Jamie Griffith ⚒ (@JGriffithJourno) February 11, 2023
A half that shows the best and worst of what Chelsea are capable of. Also shows why we are crying out for a physical 9 – would allow us to play up into them rather than constantly passing out from the back.
— Rob (@RJPJournalism) February 11, 2023
Joao Felix looked like the best player on the field in that first half.
— Scott Willis (@scottjwillis) February 11, 2023
Declan Rice is absolutely outrageous. 200m player.
— MB (@markbrit_) February 11, 2023
This referee is just an utter utter joke.
— Rob (@RJPJournalism) February 11, 2023
