The 23-year-old has often been cast as a laughing stock at Chelsea but delivered two goals and an assist here to shut up his critics.

Chelsea ruthlessly ripped a lackluster West Ham to shreds on Saturday as Nicolas Jackson scored twice and claimed an assist in a commanding 3-0 win that moves the Blues, if only temporarily, into second in the table.

The Hammers, it must be said, were way off the pace and Chelsea smelt blood. Jackson duly took his tally to four for the season inside a dreadful opening 18 minutes for the hosts – first escaping clear on the left channel and slotting through Alphonse Areola's legs before he again raced through and slid the ball home with the outside of his right foot.

It didn't get much better for an exasperated Julen Lopetegui in the second half, with his side conceding within minutes of the restart – Cole Palmer this time doing the damage as he expertly fired into the far corner of the net.

The three-goal cushion allowed Enzo Maresca to make some early changes as he attempts to keep a somewhat bloated squad of players content with their playing time but there was no way back for West Ham here, with the Blues maintaining their perfect away record at the start of the season.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the London Stadium…

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Robert Sanchez (7/10):

One or two nervy moments aside, Sanchez dealt comfortably with what West Ham had to sling at him and will be delighted with the seven saves made and a clean sheet.

Wesley Fofana (6/10):

Solid enough at right-back but perhaps fortunate that VAR let him off after a clear pull on Summerville's arm in the box in the first half. Hooked after 56 minutes.

Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10):

Could be the start of a really solid partnership alongside Colwill. Admittedly West Ham offered little as an attacking threat but he was assured at the back.

Levi Colwill (8/10):

Another commanding performance at the back by Colwill, who won everything in the air and didn't put a foot wrong over the entire 90. His place in that back four is secure.

Marc Cucurella (7/10):

A tough assignment up against the dangerous Kudus but dealt with him well, with the Ghanaian's afternoon summed up when the Euro 2024 winner smashed into him like a wrecking ball midway through the second half.

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Moises Caicedo (9/10):

Crunching tackles, piercing through balls… this is the all-action Caicedo that Chelsea fans have been patiently waiting to see. One of the best players on the pitch today.

Enzo Fernandez (7/10):

Popped the ball about nicely over the 90 minutes and did his defensive work too. Taken off late on with the game already wrapped up.

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Noni Madueke (6/10):

Got in behind on a couple of occasions but it didn't quite happen for him today and his starting place could well be under threat.

Cole Palmer (8/10):

After an uncharacteristically quiet first half, Chelsea's main main arrived at the party early on in the second 45, escaping on the counter-attack and finding the corner with a deadly finish. Looked a bit perplexed to then be taken off just after the hour mark.

Jadon Sancho (7/10):

Showed fleeting moments of how dangerous he can be in and around the box and will be happy to have claimed another assist. Hooked after 56 minutes but it's been a decent start to his Chelsea career.

Nicolas Jackson (9/10):

Outstanding. He's not had it easy at Chelsea but he truly flourished here, banging in a couple of goals inside 18 minutes with two lethal finishes before grabbing an assist for the third. Only Erling Haaland has more goals since May.

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Axel Disasi (6/10):

With Chelsea dominant, he settled in perfectly fine at the back after coming on in the second half.

Pedro Neto (6/10):

Didn't really impact the game too much when he came on for Sancho but did produce a game-high 14 passes in the final third.

Christopher Nkunku (6/10):

Looked desperate to make an impact after being brought on just after the hour mark and probably should've done better with a header from close range.

Joao Felix (5/10):

Will be annoyed not to have scored having had two presentable chances fall his way. He won't be getting in ahead of Jackson anytime soon.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (N/A):

Brought on for the final few minutes.

Enzo Maresca (8/10):

Emphatic. Picking a starting XI is by no means an easy job when you're Chelsea manager these days but the Italian got it bang on today. West Ham were clearly there for the taking, but his side brutally exposed their opponent's weaknesses and seemed to want it far more than the Hammers.