Bournemouth and Newcastle had a chance this weekend to move into the fourth spot, but they failed. The Cherries had a taught task, playing against Liverpool, and the Magpies bottled it at home against average Fulham. But the Blues didn‘t miss their chance and won the city derby in the last round against their South London rivals: Chelsea – West Ham 2-1. This game was won due to West Ham‘s mistake, Enzo Maresca‘s clever substitutions and dubious equalizer. The home team didn‘t show much at the beginning and after a stunner from Bowen the Blues needed new blood in the starting 11. Pedro Neto was the one who made the difference in the second half with a goal and an explosive presence on the right side, unlike Jadon Sancho. Then the former Manchester United‘s defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a bad block and allowed Chelsea to totally turn the game over. The home team won against their bitter rivals for the third time in a row, first time after 2010.🚨🏴 GOAL | Chelsea 0-1 West Ham | Jarrod BowenJARROD BOWEN OPENS THE SCORING FOR WEST HAM !!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/L1stWyvJ7s— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 3, 2025 Before the game, Maresca said goalkeeper Robert Sanchez cannot “make a mistake every game” and expect to keep his place so he replaced him with Filip Jorgensen. The goalkeeper has made five mistakes leading directly to goals this season, most recently in the 3-1 defeat to Man City last weekend and it was time for the Dane to take over. He was shakey as well, but didn‘t produce any goal receiving mistakes. Noni Madueke was the only really hyped up player for the home team. He created two chances, one for himself and one for Enzo Fernandez. In the 15th minute, he came inside the penalty area and had a great shot, but the ball went just wide of the post. After half an hour the Blues had another good opportunity when Madueke bursted into the penalty area again and fed Fernandez, but his shot was bad. West Ham punished those misses in the 42nd minute when West Ham‘s best striker Jarrod Bowen, who finally came back from injury was precise with his left foot and used Colwill‘s mistake to cause shock at Stamford Bridge. Palmer, who was unseen in the first half just woke up in injury time to test Areola, but the West Ham keeper made a fantastic save.🚨🏴 GOAL | Chelsea 1-1 West Ham | Pedro NetoPEDRO NETO EQUALIZES FOR CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/rL3oSCAbA5— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 3, 2025 🚨🏴 GOAL | Chelsea 2-1 West Ham | Wan-Bissaka (OG)CHELSEA HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/RNCM2s9dOq— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 3, 2025 However, things rapidly changed in the second half. In the span of just six minutes, Enzo Maresca made two substitutions and then two more and it paid dividends. Chelsea played much better and Pedro Neto, who came in as the sub equalized in the 64th minute. But the question mark over this goal remains. Prior to Chelsea‘s chance, Colwill made a clear foul on Bowen but neither referee or VAR reacted and the goal stood. The home team ‘smelled‘ blood and continued to press. West Ham‘s defense astoningly allowed Chelsea‘s best player Cole Palmer to roam alone on the edge of the penalty area and he just came in and took a shot. The ball hit Wan-Bissaka, changed director and gave the Blues a victory.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 24Saturday Nott.Forest – Brighton 7-0 (3-0)/Dunk 12 og, Gibbs-White 25, Wood 32, 64, 69 pen, Williams 89, Silva 90+1/Bournemouth – Liverpool 0-2 (0-1)/Salah 30 pen. 75/Everton – Leicester 4-0 (3-0)/Doucoure 1, Beto 6, 45+2, Ndiaye 90/Ipswich – Southampton 1-2 (1-1)/Delap 31 – Aribo 21, Onuachu 87/Newcastle – Fulham 1-2 (1-0)/Murphy 37 – Jimenez 61, Muniz 82/Wolverhampton – Aston Villa 2-0 (1-0)/Bellegarde 12, Cunha 90+7/Sunday Brentford – Tottenham 0-2 (0-1)/Janelt 29 og, Sarr 87/Man Utd – Crystal Palace 0-2 (0-0)/Mateta 64, 89/Arsenal – Man. City 5-1 (1-0)/Odegaard 2, Partey 56, Lewis-Skelly 62, Havertz 76, Nwaneri 90+3 – Haaland 55/Monday Chelsea – West Ham 2-1 (0-1)/Neto 64, Wan-Bissaka (og) 74 – Bowen 42/
