Chelsea returned to the Premier League top four following a hard-fought 2-1 win against West Ham in Monday night’s London derby at Stamford Bridge, Afrosport reports.
Blues’ boss Enzo Maresca made some changes with Filip Jorgensen replacing Robert Sanchez in between the sticks and Tosin Adarabioyo getting the nod ahead of Trevoh Chalobah.
Three points at the Bridge! 😁#CFC | #CHEWHU pic.twitter.com/8URo8GLddp
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 3, 2025
The hosts, however, were pegged back in the first half as English forward Jarrod Bowen benefitted from a misplaced pass by Levi Colwill. The 28-year-old latched on to the loose back pass before curling his strike past Jorgensen and into the bottom corner.
Chelsea headed into the halftime break behind at home, and Maresca was forced to make some changes with Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, and Christopher Nkunku called upon to turn the game around for the Blues.
The changes, meanwhile, paid off with Neto firing the Blues level in the 64th minute, 12 minutes after coming on for Jadon Sancho. The Portuguese got on the end of a blocked Enzo Fernandez shot before firing a left-footed effort past Alphonse Areola in goal for the visitors.
Chelsea turned the game around 10 minutes later through an own goal by Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Cole Palmer’s cross bounced off the former Manchester United defender’s legs and into the back of the net.
Maresca’s men held on for the win, bouncing back from last week’s defeat at the hands of Manchester City to leapfrog the Premier League champions into the top four.
Chelsea are now on 43 points, two more than City, who suffered a 5-1 thumping at Arsenal on Sunday.
⏫ @ChelseaFC move up to fourth after a 2-1 win over West Ham!#CHEWHU pic.twitter.com/bH2YDkeFuv
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 3, 2025
