Manchester United held to a draw by Fulham in disappointing season opener Manchester United held to a draw by Fulham in disappointing season opener Season opener analysis: a challenging start for the Red Devils The season began differently than Manchester United fans had hoped. After hiring new manager Rúben Amorim and spending heavily to reinforce the attack with promising names, expectations were high. However, reality struck as the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw in their first Premier League match against Fulham. The result alone was disappointing, but the performance revealed weaknesses that still require significant work. The match, held at Craven Cottage on Sunday, 24 August 2025, featured dramatic moments. Manchester United initially took the lead through an own goal but failed to maintain it, compounded by Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty that could have changed the course of the game. Lineups...
Chelsea vs West Ham: Full Match Analysis
Introduction
The London derby between Chelsea and West Ham United in Matchweek 2 of the Premier League was a highly anticipated clash. Both teams came into the game looking for redemption after a disappointing start: West Ham were thrashed 3-0 by newly promoted Sunderland, while Chelsea only managed a goalless draw against Crystal Palace. With both sides desperate for points, this was more than just an ordinary league fixture.
Lineups
West Ham (Manager: Graham Potter)
Formation: 3-4-2-1
GK: Hermansen
Defense: Wan-Bissaka – Todibo – Kilman – Nayef Aguerd – Diouf
Midfield: Ward-Prowse – Soucek – Paquetá
Attack: Füllkrug – Bowen
Chelsea (Manager: Enzo Maresca)
GK: Sánchez
Defense: Gusto – Chalobah – Tosin – Cucurella
Midfield: Caicedo – Enzo Fernández – Estevão
Attack: Neto – João Pedro – Delap
*Cole Palmer was injured in the warm-up and left out of the squad.
First Half
West Ham started aggressively, boosted by their home crowd and the absence of Chelsea’s star Cole Palmer. The Hammers pressed high and scored early in the 5th minute through a stunning strike by Lucas Paquetá after Estevão, Palmer’s 18-year-old replacement, lost possession. It was the perfect start for West Ham, looking to recover from the 3-0 defeat against Sunderland.
Chelsea, however, responded quickly. In the 15th minute, João Pedro equalized with a header from a Cucurella corner. Just minutes later, West Ham thought they had retaken the lead through Füllkrug, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The setback gave Chelsea momentum, and by the 22nd minute, Neto scored the second goal, assisted by João Pedro after another Paquetá mistake.
Before halftime, Estevão showed why he’s considered Brazil’s next big talent. He dribbled past West Ham’s defense and set up Enzo Fernández for Chelsea’s third. With the score 3-1 at halftime, boos echoed around the stadium as frustrated West Ham fans left their seats early.
First Half Summary
Chelsea reacted strongly after conceding, scoring three goals with excellent attacking play from Estevão, João Pedro, Neto, and Delap. On the other side, West Ham’s structure looked fine, but individual mistakes and sloppy passing cost them dearly. The squad clearly suffered from the summer departures of Kudus, Antonio, Ings, Coufal, Cresswell, and Zouma, without proper replacements. While Potter set up a decent tactical system, the team urgently needs reinforcements, especially on the wings to support Bowen.
Second Half
West Ham tried to stay in the game with two changes: Callum Wilson came on for Füllkrug, and youngster Freddie Potts replaced Todibo. But Chelsea quickly killed the game. In the 53rd minute, Moisés Caicedo scored from another corner after a Sánchez error. Just five minutes later, Trevoh Chalobah made it 5-1 with yet another header from a corner. From there, West Ham accepted their fate and focused only on damage control. The last half hour was uneventful, with Chelsea controlling the game comfortably.
Full Match Summary
After criticism in Matchweek 1, Chelsea delivered a statement win in the London derby, crushing West Ham 5-1. The Hammers struck first through Paquetá, but Chelsea stormed back with five unanswered goals. Despite missing Cole Palmer, the Blues looked sharp, with Estevão and João Pedro standing out. For West Ham, serious questions remain, especially in defense — conceding 8 goals in just 150 minutes of football is alarming.
Conclusion
This was a commanding performance from Chelsea, who now look ready to push forward in the Premier League. West Ham, however, need urgent fixes if they want to avoid another frustrating season.
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