Chelsea 5-0 West Ham: Player Ratings as Dominant Blues Rout Struggling Hammers

Chelsea dominated West Ham United in a first-half performance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, boosting their chances for European qualification.

Coming off a win against Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby on Thursday, the Blues continued their strong form with goals from Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, and Noni Madueke in the first 45 minutes.

Nicolas Jackson scored soon after the break and again in the 80th minute, securing Chelsea's victory and moving them above Manchester United into seventh place, just two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United. West Ham, on the other hand, sits in ninth place after their third loss in four league matches.

Thiago Silva returned to Chelsea's starting lineup, and several previously injured players were on the bench, including Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto. West Ham featured an attacking trio of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, and Mohammed Kudus.

Both teams showed moments of promise, but Chelsea took control after scoring the opening goal through Cole Palmer.

The home captain, Conor Gallagher, then extended Chelsea's lead with a goal inside the box. Noni Madueke joined in on the scoring just six minutes later.

In the second half, Madueke set up Jackson for an easy tap-in, further solidifying Chelsea's lead. Despite a few chances for West Ham, they were unable to mount a comeback.

Chelsea comfortably controlled the game, with Madueke continuing to trouble the West Ham defense and create opportunities for his team. VAR confirmed Jackson's second goal after a brief review for an offside call.