Chelsea vs West Ham United; Premier League
Chelsea vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 3
- J Pedro (57th minute)
- M Cucurella (70th minute)
- E Fernández (92nd minute)
West Ham United 2
- J Bowen (7th minute)
- C Summerville (36th minute)
- J Todibo (sent off 101st minute)
Chelsea 3-2 West Ham: Blues claim stunning comeback victory as half-time substitutes inspire Liam Rosenior's side
Report and free match highlights as Chelsea secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham in the Premier League; the Hammers were in cruise control as they led comfortably at half-time; a triple substitution from Liam Rosenior inspired the hosts, with Enzo Fernandez winning it late on
Saturday 31 January 2026 20:23, UK
Liam Rosenior's half-time changes inspired a down-and-out Chelsea to a stunning 3-2 win over West Ham.
Off the back of an incredible midweek victory in Naples that saw the reigning world champions qualify for the round of 16 in the Champions League, Rosenior opted to make seven changes at watched as it backfired against a Hammers that were clinical on the counter.
Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville gave the visitors a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break, but the introductions of Joao Pedro, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella at half-time saw the Blues storm back, with Enzo Fernandez the hero in additional time.
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With one eye on the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Tuesday, Rosenior's seven changes gave opportunities to many on the fringes of the Chelsea squad and also gave Cole Palmer a chance to return to the starting XI.
However, rather than give an opportunity to those with less minutes a chance to shine, the hosts looked disjointed and fell behind early as Bowen's cross from the right evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner.
It would be two not long after, as Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combined excellently before the full-back found Summerville in the middle who smashed home his third goal in as many games.
The boos as the half-time whistle went were deafening and animosity was at a fever pitch as goalkeeper Robert Sanchez appeared to get involved in a war of words with some furious supporters as he trudged off the pitch.
Rosenior responded emphatically. Having already brought on Pedro Neto for the injured Jamie Gittens in the first half, he rolled the dice to bring on Pedro, Fofana and Cucurella, and was rewarded.
The former two combined as Fofana put in an inch-perfect cross for Pedro to head home and halve the deficit. Less than 15 minutes later, it was Cucurella's turn as he headed home a rebound after Liam Delap had managed to hit the crossbar from all of a yard out.
The spirit shown provoked a far more supportive reaction from the stands, who willed their side on in search for a third. After Jean-Clair Todibo struck the post at the other end, they got what they were looking for.
The one player in the starting XI who looked any resemblance of a threat, Fernandez, fired home a stoppage-time winner to send Stamford Bridge into pandemonium.
The game ended in bedlam, with Todibo being sent off following an altercation with Pedro that sparked a brawl between the two sides, ending what had been a chaotic yet beautiful advert of the Premier League on a sour note.
Chelsea climb into the top four ahead of Manchester United's game against Fulham, live on Sky Sports on Sunday. West Ham remain five points adrift of safety having played a game more than 17th-place Nottingham Forest.
Neville: Chelsea looked like babies in first half
Sky Sports' Gary Neville:
"Chelsea creating their own history having never done it before, coming back from two goals down.
"Devastation for West Ham, they contributed enormously to the game.
"But Chelsea, you can watch them in the same game and they will do two completely different things. They look like kids, babies for large parts of games, then all of a sudden they come to life and are a real force.
"They go into the top four and go into Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final at Arsenal so confident having come back in the last two games against Napoli and West Ham."
Rosenior: Comeback is not about tactics
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior speaking with Sky Sports:
"There's many emotions but I'm so happy for the players. The fight, the spirit and commitment they showed in the second half.
"Tactics went out the window, it was about personality, quality and character. The players definitely showed that.
"I made three changes, we had the injury to Jamie Gittens. I sensed an energy before the game, it's very difficult going away to Italy, the emotions of that game and I made changes to the team.
"I trust my group but the first half was nowhere near the level of application or energy.
"I stayed calm with them, and said we can turn what probably feels like the worst day of our season into the best and they were magnificent in the second half.
"You have to do what you think is right for the team. There was no screaming or shouting at half-time, we changed the shape to more of a 4-4-2 with Cole Palmer being free from the right and Pedro Neto from the left.
"It was about how we win the second half, not about the first half. I didn't have time to talk about the first half.
"But it's not about me, there's some incredibly talented young players here. What I loved was the energy in the stadium, that's what Chelsea's all about.
"The fighting, the spirit, the running, the effort, this is a local derby and we showed in the second half all the things I want to see in my team."
'Good first half, bad second half'
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking with Sky Sports:
"Good first half, bad second half. We played really well, controlled the game, defended well. We created a lot of danger.
"At half-time I said we needed to defend, to do things properly, keep the same idea, control the game and manage the momentum.
"We knew Chelsea would react, but we defended badly and should have done better.
"We could avoid it, crosses into our box, we had bodies to control it better.
"It's a reaction [to retreat] but it's not what we should have done. We should have kept the same idea as the first half.
"Three at the back was about controlling, we were not able to do it with our wingers.
"I'll not speak about my players, what I have to tell them I will do that personally."
