West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea

Chelsea’s hopes of securing a top-four finish were left hanging by a thread as a goal from their former player Emerson Palmieri clinched a 1-1 draw for West Ham at the London Stadium.

Graham Potter’s new-look side started strongly and looked like they might subject the hosts to a punishing afternoon when January signings Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix combined for the latter’s first Chelsea goal (16) on his return from suspension.

But West Ham weathered the early storm and capitalised on poor Chelsea defending when Jarrod Bowen flicked on Vladimir Coufal’s cross, allowing the unmarked Emerson to score at the far post (28).

Chelsea, held to goalless draws in their previous two games, once again struggled to break their opponents down after that and West Ham thought they had won it late on when Tomas Soucek scored from close range, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.

There was another major flashpoint in the final few minutes as Chelsea were denied a penalty after Soucek appeared to handle a low shot from Conor Gallagher, but VAR did not intervene, the draw leaving the Blues in ninth place, nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, and piling more pressure on Potter.

How Chelsea were frustrated

Chelsea came into the game having failed to score in over three hours of Premier League action but it looked like they might finally have clicked in the early stages at the London Stadium.

In fact, Felix had already had the ball in the net once before his opener, seeing an effort ruled out for offside having raced onto a through-ball soon after West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta had suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder.

Paqueta was duly substituted for Soucek and Chelsea’s breakthrough came soon after the enforced change, Felix finding himself with time and space to convert from Fernandez’s teasing cross.

Chelsea looked like they might run away with it at that point, their new-look front line of Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz combining dangerously as Fernandez pulled the strings from the base of midfield.

Havertz had another goal ruled out for offside after finishing smartly from Mudryk’s reverse pass, but West Ham hung on and then punished slack Chelsea defending to level when Emerson popped up at the far post to score against his former club.

West Ham had gone close shortly before that, when Michail Antonio’s flicked effort from Bowen’s cross was blocked by Kepa Arrizabalaga, but Chelsea then created a series of other chances before the break, with Madueke forcing a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski.

Rather than pick up where they left off, however, Chelsea’s attacking threat faded badly, with Felix unable to replicate his influential first-half showing and West Ham growing in stature.

Potter’s side created a couple of half-chances, with a Reece James free kick flashing wide off the top of Antonio’s head, and Havertz heading wide from a centre by substitute Ben Chilwell.

But West Ham held firm and the London Stadium erupted in celebration when Soucek bundled home from a free kick after Declan Rice’s initial effort had been saved, only for a lengthy VAR check to correctly rule the goal out for offside.

There was no such VAR check for Chelsea, however, when Gallagher’s effort struck the hand of Soucek as he slid across in an attempt to make a block, referee Craig Pawson waving away their appeals and forcing Potter and his players to once again settle for a point.

What’s next?

West Ham have another London derby next weekend when they visit Tottenham on Sunday 19 February; kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports.

Sunday 19th February 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Chelsea face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 15 February – kick-off 8pm – before they host Southampton back in the Premier League on Saturday 18 February; kick-off 3pm.