Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer goals gave Chelsea another victory away from home while casting doubt on West Ham’s future under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard looked furious as his expensively-assembled side collapsed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to their London rivals.
Shortly after the game began, Palmer added a third goal, and Jackson scored twice more in the first three minutes.
That means that since taking over for David Moyes, all Lopetegui has to show for his £120 million summer signing spree is three home losses, a grueling victory at Crystal Palace, and a thrilling draw with Fulham.
After just five games, the London Stadium supporters, many of whom still wanted Moyes fired despite the Scot leading the team to its greatest triumph in decades, turned against the new manager halfway through the second half.
Loud jeers greeted Lopetegui’s choice to replace Crysencio Summerville, who was reasonable enough not to be the worst performer.
From the luxury of the beIN Sports studio, Moyes may have been counting his blessings that he departed when he did, seeing his former self come apart.
In contrast, everything appears more promising in the Chelsea garden as Enzo Maresca’s team wins three games in a row away from home and briefly moves up to second place in the standings.
Chelsea’s opening attack began when Jackson was discovered down the left after what appeared to be a harmless free-kick. This set the tone for a punishing afternoon for West Ham.
The Senegal forward made a far too easy cut inside and beat Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola at his near post with a ball through his legs.
In just fifteen minutes, Jackson scored his second goal against West Ham, his fourth of the year, and his fourth in three games.
After Moises Caicedo played the ball forward, Jackson easily navigated the gap created by Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos, the center backs for the Hammers, and slotted the ball past Areola.
Although Jarrod Bowen’s fine shot went over the crossbar, West Ham’s performance had been appalling, and they did have a brief chance to cut the lead.
After Summerville fell down in the area after Wesley Fofana pulled him back, Chelsea was awarded a VAR penalty review; the official explanation was “not sustained holding.” However, Mohammed Kudus had the ball in the net when it was called offside.
It seems that Lopetegui’s advice before halftime was ineffective because Chelsea scored a third goal seventy seconds into the second half.