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'Holy Lord': West Ham's 'freakish' moment against Chelsea stuns fans

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured right, Arthur Masuaku celebrates his bizarre winner for West Ham against Chelsea.
Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy was left red-faced by Arthur Masuaku's bizarre winner for West Ham. Pic: Optus Sport/Getty

West Ham have ended Chelsea's reign at the top of the English Premier League table after a "freakish" goal snatched a pulsating 3-2 home win over the Blues.

Chelsea had lost just once in the Premier League before Saturday's match at the London Stadium and had conceded just six goals in 14 matches.

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The European champions led twice, through a Thiago Silva header and Mason Mount's spectacular volley, but they were pegged back both times by a penalty from Manuel Lanzini and Jarrod Bowen's strike.

However, the Blues were dealt the most dramatic blow in the final three minutes as West Ham substitute Arthur Masuaku deceived Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to score one of the most bizarre goals of the season.

Masuaku admitted after the match that even he wasn't sure whether his speculative strike from the left edge of the Chelsea box was a shot or a cross.

The defender's swerving ball towards goal caught Mendy napping at his near post as the Chelsea keeper could only parry the ball into his own net.

"So, was it a cross or was it shot," Masuaku asked on Twitter after the game.

"(Hint: I was as surprised as you)."

The extraordinary winner lit up social media, with many fans insisting Masuaku's goal was an intentional shot on goal.

Manchester City snatch top spot on table

On a day in which three different teams led the Premier League standings, it was champions Manchester City that remained there for first time this season.

While Chelsea faltered, City displayed total dominance in a 3-1 win at Watford that was their 31st in the calendar year, surpassing their previous club record.

Bernardo Silva scored twice after Raheem Sterling's early opener as City proved once again they can do perfectly fine without a recognised striker in the line-up.

"It was a really good performance... It was disappointing because the game should be over quicker, but we are in a routine of being consistent in the way we play. So you can never be frustrated," City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports.

It was a fifth straight league win for City, who are one point ahead of Liverpool and two in front of Chelsea after 15 rounds.

Liverpool - who had scored four goals in each of their past three games - needed a strike from substitute Origi in the fourth minute of stoppage time to get the job done at stubborn Wolves.

Seen here, Liverpool's Divock Origi celebrates his winning goal against Wolves.
Liverpool's Divock Origi scored the decisive goal in his side's narrow win over Wolves in the Premier League. Pic: Getty

Newcastle United finally won, 15 games into the season, with Callum Wilson on target late in the first half against fellow relegation strugglers Burnley.

The 1-0 result lifted the Magpies above Norwich City to 19th, while Burnley are 18th with all three side on 10 points.

Meanwhile, Neal Maupay's goal in the eighth minute of time added on rescued a 1-1 draw for Brighton at Southampton, who led through Armando Broja's smart finish in the 29th.

with agencies

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