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.
