With the win, Chelsea moved within four points of third-place Nottingham Forest and two points ahead of fifth-place Manchester City and sixth-place Newcastle United. In his first game back following a month-long absence due to a foot fracture, Jarrod Bowen gave the Hammers the lead three minutes before halftime by jumping on a back ball from defender Levi Colwill and sending a left-footed shot past Chelsea's goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

After a chaotic first half in which Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Jadon Sanchez all missed decent chances, the goal brought some energy to the match. Three minutes after the first goal, West Ham goalie Alphonse Areola made sure the team had the advantage going into halftime by tipping a spinning Palmer free kick over the bar.