With goals from Jackson and Cole Palmer in the first half, Chelsea improved to 3-0 under new manager Enzo Maresca in the Premier League.

Despite Christopher Nkunku’s game-winning performance last weekend against Bournemouth, Chelsea’s first choice striker by Maresca on Friday, Jackson scored a pair of goals at the perfect times.

Even though Jackson extended the Senegal star’s contract in September, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2033, Nkunku, a French forward who came off the bench to score in the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, was asked to start.

While making 17 goals in his first season with the Blues, Jackson was erratic and missed several golden opportunities.

To be sure, the 23-year-old has been on fire thus far this season, scoring four goals in as many appearances across all competitions.

Among Chelsea’s five Premier League matches this season, they have won three on the road and lost only once, to eventual champions Manchester City.

Former Leicester manager Maresca, who took over for Mauricio Pochettino in the offseason, has made a good impression, despite rumours of a power struggle between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

The Italian may be just what Chelsea needs to transform their expensively formed team of underachievers into a top four contender after two disastrous seasons in which they finished in sixth and twelfth place, respectively.

Even before the final whistle, the few irate fans who remained at the stadium jeered new manager Julen Lopetegui, a former manager of Real Madrid and Spain, for the awful start the Hammers had had to this season.

West Ham have started a league season with three consecutive home losses and one win out of five games in the Premier League this term.

Spontaneous ChelseaRight from the opening, Chelsea were on the attack. Jackson received a pass from Jadon Sancho and raced down the right flank after West Ham opted to not challenge a free-kick.

Cutting into the penalty area, Jackson easily beat Alphonse Areola’s feeble attempt at a save.

It hadn’t happened since Daniel Sturridge scored against QPR in 2012 that Chelsea had scored so early in a Premier League London rivalry.

West Ham were no match for Jackson, who set up Cole Palmer for a low strike that sailed narrowly wide.

The second goal, scored by Chelsea in the 18th minute, seemed inevitable given the constant pressure they were applying.

At the pinnacle of a free-flowing move, a delicate pass from Moises Caicedo got past the West Ham defense and found Jackson, who calmly finished beyond Areola.

A terrible shot by Jarrod Bowen, who was in a decent position, went over the crossbar and summed up West Ham’s slow start.

After joining West Ham from Leeds in the offseason, Crysencio Summerville made his league debut. After Wesley Fofana’s tug sent him tumbling, Summerville claimed a penalty, but VAR denied his claims.

Before half-time, Lopetegui replied to West Ham’s lack of effort by dismissing Guido Rodríguez, an Argentine midfielder.

However, the person who will replace Rodriguez; Thomas Soucek’s careless shot at Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, lifted Lopetegui’s spirits.

Making his first Premier League start since May 2023, Sancho appeared revitalized after his loan from Manchester United, creating issues with his agile dribbling.

The England forward collected a feed from Jackson and tucked it past Areola from a tight angle in the 47th minute, killing off West Ham.