West Ham 0-0 Chelsea: Yarmolenko misses golden opportunity to snatch 3 points

And then there was one.

Liverpool will take the only 100 per cent record in the Premier League to Stamford Bridge next week, after a visit to Chelsea’s least favourite away ground produced stalemate and the end of a run of straight victories for Maurizio Sarri.

Try as they might Chelsea could not turn five into six at a ground where they have won just once in four visits. Ironically, the only team that seems as averse to winning at the London Stadium are West Ham themselves. 

Chelsea dropped points for the first time this season as they drew 0-0 with West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday

Andriy Yarmolenko missed a glorious opportunity to snatch three points late on for West Ham but sent his header wide

Andriy Yarmolenko missed a glorious opportunity to snatch three points late on for West Ham but sent his header wide

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud fluffs his lines at the back-post during a tight opening period at the London Stadium

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud fluffs his lines at the back-post during a tight opening period at the London Stadium

Olivier Giroud puts his head in his hands after squandering a chance during the first-half of Chelsea's clash with West Ham

Olivier Giroud puts his head in his hands after squandering a chance during the first-half of Chelsea’s clash with West Ham

West Ham's best chances fell to Michail Antonio, who replaced the injured Marko Arnautovic in West Ham's starting line-up

West Ham’s best chances fell to Michail Antonio, who replaced the injured Marko Arnautovic in West Ham’s starting line-up

Antonio (pictured) blazed over when through on the left and saw a second effort superbly saved by Chelsea keeper Kepa

Antonio (pictured) blazed over when through on the left and saw a second effort superbly saved by Chelsea keeper Kepa

Chelsea's Eden Hazard goes to ground under the attentions of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice during the first-half

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard goes to ground under the attentions of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice during the first-half

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

West Ham: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Balbuena, Masuaku, Rice

Yarmolenko, Obiang, Noble (Sanchez 85), Felipe Anderson (Snodgrass 74), Antonio (Perez 65). 

Subs not used: Cresswell, Adrian, Ogbonna, Fredericks.

Yellow cards: Anderson, Snodgrass 

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger (Cahill 69), Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic (Barkley 79), Willian, Giroud (Morata 65), Hazard. 

Subs not used: Fabregas, Caballero, Moses, Zappacosta.

Yellow cards: Kante 

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)  

Attendance: 56,875

Declan Rice was a key presence in front of the defence for West Ham, shutting down space for Chelsea’s midfielders. CLICK HERE for more from Sportsmail’s Match Zone.

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This was a good point for the home side, though, after such a dismal start to the season. A stretch of four defeats with upcoming matches against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United left many fearing the worst. Instead, following an unexpected win at Goodison Park, a rejuvenated West Ham took a hard-fought point from a team that will consider itself title contenders – and could have had more were it not for a horrid miss from Andriy Yarmalenko.

When Robert Snodgrass battled through on the left with 13 minutes to go, his cross found Yarmalenko entirely unmarked at the far post. There was no better chance all game, yet somehow the Ukrainian couldn’t even get his header on target.

Not that Chelsea could have complained too bitterly had it gone in. Though they saw a lot of the ball, particularly in the second-half, they rarely turned that supremacy into chances. Indeed, in the second-half, their finest scoring opportunities came in two phases of the same play, seconds apart.

For the first, Willian found a surprisingly ineffective Eden Hazard, and his back heel was cut out by Issa Diop before Alvaro Morata could get there with the goal gaping. From the resulting corner, the ball was recycled by Willian, and Yarmalenko missed his kick. David Luiz got a touch and it fell to Morata, who shot struck Lukasz Fabianski in the face. Breathe, and relax.

True, Ross Barkley could have won it at the last when he was played in by Hazard and his shot from range was tipped round – but this was disappointing from Chelsea after so much early promise. After Liverpool have come to town next week, we will know where they really stand.

When the first 45 minutes passes and Chelsea’s most consistent threat has been N’Golo Kante in the air, it is fair to say the defensive strategy is working. Manuel Pellegrini went with no strikers – in the absence of the injured Marko Arnautovic – but plenty of resilience through the middle where Chelsea do some of their best work.

The lively Hazard (right) struggled to find a way past the deep-lying hosts in a first-half stalemate at the London Stadium

The lively Hazard (right) struggled to find a way past the deep-lying hosts in a first-half stalemate at the London Stadium

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante twice threatened in the air for the visitors during the first-half but failed to convert either chance

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante twice threatened in the air for the visitors during the first-half but failed to convert either chance

Andriy Yarmolenko (left) was afforded another opportunity to impress for West Ham after his brace against Everton

Andriy Yarmolenko (left) was afforded another opportunity to impress for West Ham after his brace against Everton

Eden Hazard (left) of Chelsea is tackled by Declan Rice (right) of West Ham during Sunday's game at the London Stadium

Eden Hazard (left) of Chelsea is tackled by Declan Rice (right) of West Ham during Sunday’s game at the London Stadium

As it was, that area became very congested and Chelsea’s most creative players, not least Eden Hazard, could not find a way through. Up against Pablo Zabaleta, whose game intelligence so often compensates for his aging legs, Hazard grew so frustrated that he resorted to throwing himself to the ground and appealing in vain for a penalty. Chelsea had plenty of possession, but little in the way of attacking threat in the first-half. By contrast, West Ham spent long periods pinned back but when they did find a way out, forced the best chances of the half.

They came in the space of two minutes, both falling to Michail Antonio who, sadly, is no finisher. No Marko Arnautovic, and not even Lucas Perez, who sat on the bench while a midfielder took his place. In this way, certainly, West Ham’s manager cannot complain. He went for Antonio, so can hardly complain of a lack of precision when it mattered. The physical aspect of the job suited him just when. When Felipe Anderson broke and threaded the ball through, Antonio shrugged Antonio Rudiger off beautifully. His shot, however, was ugly, wild and panicked and wide of the target.

The next attempt came closer. A broke down the opposite, right, side this time, through the dangerous Andriy Yarmalenko, who is looking better value for West Ham with each passing week. He broke into Chelsea’s box, before releasing Antonio, whose shot was kept out by the legs of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea chances were limited. A Hazard shot after 12 minutes that Lukasz Fabianski dealt with comfortably, and that Kante header shortly before half-time from a Willian cross.

Summer signing Felipe Anderson (right) was a constant menace for West Ham from his position on the left of midfield

Summer signing Felipe Anderson (right) was a constant menace for West Ham from his position on the left of midfield

Midfielder Willian (pictured) acrobatically controlls a high ball as Chelsea search for the opener against rivals West Ham

Midfielder Willian (pictured) acrobatically controlls a high ball as Chelsea search for the opener against rivals West Ham

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri (left) watches on from the sidelines with club legend Gianfranco Zola (right) on Sunday

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri (left) watches on from the sidelines with club legend Gianfranco Zola (right) on Sunday

West Ham's Marko Arnautovic (pictured) missed Sunday's game with London rivals Chelsea through injury

West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic (pictured) missed Sunday’s game with London rivals Chelsea through injury

After failing to secure a point before the international break, West Ham have started to improve under Manuel Pellegrini (c)

After failing to secure a point before the international break, West Ham have started to improve under Manuel Pellegrini (c)

Andriy Yarmolenko (left) shakes hands with team-mate Carlos Sanchez (right) after West Ham's 0-0 draw with Chelsea

Andriy Yarmolenko (left) shakes hands with team-mate Carlos Sanchez (right) after West Ham’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea

Eden Hazard (pictured) applauds Chelsea's contingent of supporters shortly after the final whistle at the London Stadium

Eden Hazard (pictured) applauds Chelsea’s contingent of supporters shortly after the final whistle at the London Stadium

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