Chelsea Silence Critics with Thrashing of West Ham Despite Palmer Absence

Chelsea emphatically answered doubts about their reliance on Cole Palmer by dismantling West Ham 5-1, as teenage star Estevão and João Pedro shone in a reshuffled attack at the London Stadium.

Chelsea could have buckled after trailing 1-0 within six minutes and losing Cole Palmer to a late injury in the warm-up. Instead, they responded by producing a dominant display that underlined their ability to thrive without their talisman.

By the 58th minute, the Blues had raced into a 5-1 lead with five different scorers, firmly dispelling the notion that they are overly dependent on Palmer.

Palmer, who was withdrawn with a groin issue shortly before kick-off and escorted down the tunnel by fitness coach Marcos Alvarez, watched on as his teammates delivered an attacking masterclass.

While the standard of opposition must be acknowledged — West Ham looked desperately poor and already face murmurs of a relegation battle — Enzo Maresca’s side demonstrated their depth, fluidity and attacking variety.

Chelsea supporters mocked former manager Graham Potter, now in charge of West Ham, with chants of “There’s only one Graham Potter” as the hosts endured a torrid evening.

Afterwards, Maresca dismissed suggestions his side were overly reliant on Palmer:

“You know already how I feel. I don’t care. For sure, Cole is our best player, no doubt. When we have him, we are a much, much, much better team. But we already showed last year, in the months where Cole wasn’t 100 per cent, when we achieved top four.”

Palmer’s withdrawal forced a rapid reshuffle. Estevão was drafted into the side on the right wing, with João Pedro moving into the No.10 role and Pedro Neto switching to the left, while Liam Delap remained up front.

The Brazilian teenager was outstanding, becoming the youngest Chelsea player to record a Premier League assist. His energy, skill and flair earned him the Sky Sports man-of-the-match award.

Yet João Pedro also impressed, flourishing in a deeper role. The £55 million signing scored once, provided two assists, and looked far more effective than in his striking role against Crystal Palace the previous week.

Chelsea, often ridiculed for repeatedly signing from Brighton, appear to have struck gold again. Pedro joined the likes of Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo in showing his worth, while goalkeeper Robert Sánchez continues to prove steady, if unspectacular, in contrast to West Ham’s struggling stopper Mads Hermansen.

Criticism of Chelsea’s supposed dependence on Palmer has always been overstated. While he has delivered in key moments — including the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain and the Conference League tie with Real Betis — he had not scored from open play in the Premier League since January’s draw with Bournemouth.

Saturday’s victory served as the perfect rebuttal to the “Cole Palmer FC” jibes. With multiple scorers and standout contributions from their new signings, Chelsea proved they are more than capable of winning without their star man.