Enzo Maresca has unveiled his decision to withdraw Cole Palmer from Chelsea's 5-1 thrashing from West Ham, was taken to prevent him from taking risks with his fitness.
Chelsea got a blow before the kick -off, with Palmer left global warming early and withdrew from the starting arrangement to be replaced by younger Estevao.
And the blues initially struggled in his absence after he had gone behind to Lucas Paqueta's stunning sixth minute more open, but the club World Cup champions reacted in style.
She pulled the first Premier League goal from Joao Pedro for Chelsea before they continue strikes from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez that the men of Maresca sail during the break.
Trevoh Chalobah and Moises Caicedo concluded the routes, which led the blues to the top of the early classification, drawn their opening match with Crystal Palace.
Indeed, under Maresca, since the beginning of last season, Chelsea has raised more points in Premier League London Derbies than any other side (26 – P14 W7 D5 L2).
The blues will take another team from the capital in Fulham next weekend, and Palmer is perhaps still available after Maresca revealed that his absence was precaution.
“In the past four or five days he was not 100%. He felt something in global warming, and we didn't want to take any risk of getting worse,” Maresca told BBC Sport.
Cole Palmer has been replaced in tonight's starting line-up by Estevao Willian.#CFC | #Whuche
– Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) August 22, 2025
The Triumph of Chelsea was only the 10th time in the Premier League history that a side scored five or more goals in their first road game of the season, with the blues also the last to do this, with 6-2 road to Wolves in 2024-25.
And Maresca's Kant was worth their victory and ended the game with an expected goals (XG) a total of 2.93 of their 12 shots to West Ham's 0.94 of their 12 attempts when they stacked more pressure on former boss Graham Potter.
“Very happy for today, also very happy last week. I thought the performance was good, we didn't score at the time, but tonight we scored five,” Maresca added.
“For me it is fantastic since I enjoyed the club. Probably the latest results, the Conference League, Club World Cup, top four in the Premier League.
“I think nobody expected it, but we have achieved it.”
Their result was made even more impressive in view of their attacking dominance without Palmer, who was their top scorer in the Premier League last season with 15 goals.
But the blues had a sufficient replacement in rising star Estevao, who built on his impressive preseason by grabbing an assist at his first start in the top flight.
Indeed, on the age of 18 and 120 days old, Estevao became the youngest player in the Premier League history to help a goal for Chelsea, while he was also the youngest player who starts for the blues in the top flight since Lewis Hall in November 2022 (18 years, 65 days).
18 – Estêvão is the youngest player in the Premier League history to help a goal for Chelsea (18 years, 120 days). Wonderkind. pic.twitter.com/iowsyxkktf
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) August 22, 2025
Estevao also ended the competition with team -high Totals for successful dribbles (two) and fit in the last third (14, level with Moises Caicedo), which made Marc Cucurella impressed.
“I think he is young, but he showed that he is very mature,” said the left -wing back Sky Sports.
“He made very good decisions and all new players, all new signing sessions, came here to help the team, to bring something good, good energy, good talent.
“I think we have a great team, so I hope we can do good things this season.”