Credit: Imago / Sky Sports News

Harri Burton

Sat 23 August 2025 13:23, UK

Paul Merson has already delivered his thoughts on when Graham Potter could be sacked after West Ham were embarrassed by Chelsea.

West Ham told not to return to Chelsea over Andrey Santos after Graham Potter's search blocked	West Ham 'plot move for La Liga star' amid mounting pressure on Graham Potter	Sources: West Ham's decision on Graham Potter's future revealed

The Hammers took a surprise lead at the London Stadium on Friday, 22 August, with Lucas Paqueta firing an incredible effort past Robert Sanchez, but everything else was downhill.

Joao Pedro equalised with a fine header before Niclas Fullkrug’s effort was ruled out for offside, with Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez taking advantage of dropped heads to take a 3-1 lead before half-time.

Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah added the fourth and fifth goals in the second half as the Blues dropped off pressure, leaving Potter facing extreme questions over his future at West Ham.

The under-pressure figure has now lost 11 of his 21 matches in charge, setting a record for the fewest home points by a Hammers manager after 10 games, and both Kris Boyd and Paul Merson are worried for his future.

Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (23 August, 12:38pm), Boyd said: “Looking at the fixtures, these teams will be in and around them, probably up until Tottenham, but you’ve got Forest, Palace, and Everton.”

In agreement, Merson said: “I’d be amazed, I’d be shocked, looking at it so far, if they go and get beaten by Forest, which you’d expect them to… heading into the international break, he’s not in big, big, big trouble.”

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Supporters began flooding out of the London Stadium before the first-half whistle sounded, and that says everything about the atmosphere at West Ham just two games into the new season.

Credit: Manh Tung – Breaking Media

Football Insider verdict

It is usually Chelsea known for their revolving door of ever-changing managers, but that appears to have moved across London, with Potter already on the verge of being booted through the exit doors.

The former Brighton and Chelsea boss has won just 24 per cent of his games in charge since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January, though fans are hardly surprised at his failures so far.

David Sullivan and Karren Brady are both having the finger pointed at them, given that the manager has barely been backed in the summer transfer window, but his stubbornness is hardly helping.

(Credit: Imago)

Supporters are fuming after the early-morning announcement of Edson Alvarez‘s loan move to Fenerbahce, given that the Hammers’ real lack was in the centre of midfield on Friday night.

James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek were completely overrun, leaving Jarrod Bowen and Fullkrug isolated in the final third, and it was simple to unlock Potter’s team from there.

Time is quickly running out for the 50-year-old to prove that he is the man to lead the Irons forward, and if Merson’s quotes are anything to go by, he could have just a handful of games remaining.

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