West Ham United 0–0 Chelsea, EPL 2018/19 Match Report: Chelsea Drops Points for the First Time This Season With a Nil-Nil Stalemate
Up next for Chelsea is Liverpool who they place twice in the League Cup and EPL and the fans will be hoping this was just a one-off blip.
Chelsea dropped points for the first time this season as they were held to a 0-0 draw at West Ham United in a game where both sides missed glorious chances. Maurizio Sarri’s men had come into the game on the back of five straight wins, and against the leagues bottom side, they were not many who had not put the money on a Blues win. The Europa League travel may have just crippled the players' fitness, and it was more of mental fatigue than physical which made Chelsea looked a pale shadow of their usual self. Chelsea continues to remain at the third place at the Premier League 2018-19 standings and points table. English Premier League 2018–19 Points Table & Standings: Liverpool on Top of EPL Table the Current Football Season!
In the first half, Michael Antonio wasted two glorious opportunities to give his side the lead, but some poor finishing left his team ruing the opportunity. Chelsea crafted few openings in the game, and Eden Hazard, in particular, was devoid of any space and cut a frustrated figure. When the big chance did come for Chelsea, the cross from the wide found NGolo Kante who headed wide. The midfielder is not the sort of player you will want at the end of crosses but such was the day for Chelsea.
OUCH! Fabianski denies Morata with his face!
The best chance of the game fell to Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko in the 77th minute when he headed wide with the goal gaping in front of him after a pinpoint cross from Robert Snodgrass. The crowd watched in disbelief as the striker who had netted a brace in the previous game missed a sitter. Alvaro Morata who has been completely out of sorts in the opening few games hit a shot straight at Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski who saved with his face to end the game in a stalemate. Up next for Chelsea is Liverpool who they place twice in the League Cup and EPL and the fans will be hoping this was just a one-off blip.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2018 11:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).