Sterling was a constant menace down our right flank. Drifting off the touchline or dropping deeper to receive possession and run at West Ham’s backline, he had the beating of Emerson and Nayef Aguerd time and again.

Indeed, the Moroccan’s first yellow card was for a foul on the nimble Sterling – and the England international was also chopped down for the penalty we were awarded before the break.

In his post-match press conference, Pochettino was asked about Sterling’s game on an otherwise disappointing afternoon in east London.

‘I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but we were talking a lot this week in my office,’ Pochettino replied.

‘We trust him. He’s a player that can deliver what we want and what we expect, and he was fantastic today.

‘For sure, we are not happy and he is not happy because he performed but we didn’t win. But that is the way we expect a player to perform, to be bold and committed with the team.’

In total, Sterling completed a game-high six dribbles. That is his best figure in a Chelsea shirt in the Premier League, beating the four he managed in last season’s home fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

Although we are only two matches in, Sterling is averaging 7.5 attempted dribbles per game in 2023/24, well up on his average of 3.3 per game last term.

‘It’s about being aggressive,’ noted Sterling, who received the official Player of the Match award despite ending on the losing side.

‘A lot of the time it’s back to goal so it was nice to get on the half turn. I’m a player that needs to be driving, action after action. If I’m not doing that I’m nowhere near my best, so that’s what I need to keep doing every time I get the ball. I have to turn, drive and be aggressive.’

Sterling’s speed helped his aggressiveness yesterday. His 27 sprints during the game is a high for him since moving to Stamford Bridge. His previous best tally was 26, which came at home to Bournemouth on Boxing Day.

That turn of pace allowed Sterling to get deep into enemy territory – and on another afternoon one of his many threatening centres could have been converted.

In total, he managed 16 touches in the opposition box, another high in Chelsea blue. His previous best was 12 on the final day of last season against Newcastle.

Sterling’s 83 touches overall is an extremely high figure for an attacking player, and was bettered only by our three centre-backs and Enzo Fernandez. It showed the winger’s influence on the contest as we continually worked the ball wide to him as he was proving our most threatening player.

‘I was raring to go from the off season, looking to get back to the levels I know I can get to,’ Sterling said yesterday.

After a transitional first year at the Bridge, the early signs that Raheem is doing just that are very promising indeed. Long may it continue.