This week, the Hammers opened talks with out-of-work Julen Lopetegui about taking over from Moyes when the Scot’s contract expires in June – and if he was looking for a show of support from his players at Stamford Bridge, it never materialised.
Rejuvenated Chelsea were rampant as they racked up a second convincing home win in three days, and five goals barely flattered them.
Cole Palmer notched a 21st league goal of the season when he powered home the first inside 15 minutes, with Conor Gallagher and star-man Noni Madueke wrapping up victory before half-time.
West Ham did hit the bar twice through Jarrod Bowen in the first half but were wretched defensively, and were labelled “embarrassing” by Sky Sports’ Clinton Morrison at the break.
“West Ham are on the beach,” he said. “It’s embarrassing the way they are playing. They aren’t even making a challenge. They aren’t doing anything. It looks like they have just downed tools.
“It’s nowhere near good enough. I don’t care what anyone says, you’ve still got to keep going until the end of the season.”
Things went from bad to worse as the Hammers were caught out yet again two minutes into the second period when Madueke squared for Nicolas Jackson to add a fourth.
Jackson doubled his tally from yet another Chelsea break 10 minutes from time when a VAR check overruled an initial offside flag against the Senegal striker, in one final painful moment of a miserable afternoon for Moyes and West Ham, as they shipped five for the second time in three games.
The handsome victory moves Chelsea above Manchester United in the Premier League table – and very much in contention for qualification for Europe.
Both Moyes and Mauricio Pochettino came into Sunday’s game with question marks over their futures.
Despite that, the form of the respective clubs could not have been more contrasting – and it showed once Palmer rifled in the opener when Madueke’s cross deflected into his path.
