The Sunday Mail
London. — CHELSEA crashed to a shock 3-2 defeat at West Ham as Arthur Masuaku’s fortuitous late winner capped the Premier League leaders’ second-half collapse in a dramatic London derby yesterday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side went ahead through Thiago Silva but Manuel Lanzini’s penalty drew West Ham level. Mason Mount restored Chelsea’s advantage just before half-time, only for Jarrod Bowen to blast West Ham’s second equaliser soon after the interval.
Chelsea dominated for long periods but made too many mistakes at both ends and paid the price with three minutes left as Masuaku’s miscued cross somehow found its way past Edouard Mendy.
It was the Blues’ first defeat in their last 13 games in all competitions and their spell at the top of the Premier League was under threat by last night. They are just one point ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who visited Watford later last night, with third-placed Liverpool also able to go above Chelsea if they with a win at Wolves.
Fourth-placed West Ham once again showed their ability to make life uncomfortable for the big guns.
The Hammers had already ended Liverpool’s long unbeaten run this season, as well as knocking Manchester City and Manchester United out of the League Cup.
Now Chelsea have joined the list of star-studded teams driven to distraction by David Moyes’ well-drilled side.
After admitting Chelsea rode their luck to beat Watford in midweek, Tuchel will be concerned at another unusually disjointed display from the European champions.
Reece James has been in superb form of late and Chelsea’s right wing-back tested Lukasz Fabianski with a 20-yard drive before providing the cross that Kai Havertz headed straight at the Hammers keeper.
Chelsea collapse
Chelsea’s early dominance was rewarded in the 29th minute when Silva met Mason Mount’s corner with a downwards header that Fabianski could only push into the net via the far post.
But their concentration wavered and West Ham were gifted an equaliser five minutes before half-time.
Jorginho played a suicidal backpass that Mendy scrambled to reach before Bowen.
As the Senegal keeper tried to dribble around Bowen, he lost control of the ball and sent the West Ham forward crashing to the turf with a panicked tackle.
It was a comedy of errors and Lanzini delivered the punchline as he drove the penalty into the roof of the net.
Jorginho’s howler came just a week after his woeful control allowed Jadon Sancho to score in the draw with Manchester United. — supersport.com
