Stamford Bridge is gearing up for another London derby as Chelsea are all set to host West Ham United on Sunday.
The stakes are quite high for both Chelsea and West Ham United in this fixture. Both London clubs are involved in the intense race for European qualification, and a defeat here could be a major setback for either club with just a handful of games to go.
The Blues have moved up to eighth in the points table. They have 51 points in their 34 matches and have a realistic chance of finishing sixth, which will be considered a massive improvement if compared to last season. They are just three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and with four games to go, they will look to maintain the pressure.
Chelsea are heading into this fixture on the back of an important 2-0 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are fifth in the league. The result is a massive boost for them in their pursuit of a European spot, and they will look to carry on in similar fashion when they face ninth-placed West Ham.
The Hammers have accumulated 49 points in their 35 matches, and a win here will keep their hopes of qualifying for a European competition alive. But, David Moyes’s team have not been in the best of forms of late, which is a major concern for their fans.
They have only won one of their last five matches and have been winless in their last three league outings. Dropping points in the final phase of the season is making things difficult for them and if they fail to return to winning ways against the Blues, it will most likely end their hopes of featuring in Europe next season. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino will be without quite a few of his first-team players as Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, Malo Gusto, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Thiago Silva, and Robert Sanchez are all out injured.
Meanwhile, the availability of Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, and Christopher Nkunku is a doubt. While Alfie Gilchrist was seen struggling towards the end of their last fixture, he is expected to be back in time for this one.
The home team will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Djordje Petrovic in goal. Alfie Gilchrist and Marc Cucurella will be the full-backs, while Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile will feature in the heart of the defence.
Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to control the tempo of this game. Cole Palmer, who has been in sensational form this season, should start as the no. 10, while Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk should provide width to their attacks. Nicolas Jackson is expected to be leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gilchrist, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
West Ham United
George Earthy, who is going through concussion protocols, could be back in time for this fixture along with Konstantinos Mavropanos, whose availability will depend on a late fitness test. Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd has been ruled out of this fixture.
The Hammers are also expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. They will have Alphonse Areola in goal. Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Palmieri will feature as the full-backs for the visitors, while Kurt Zouma will pair up with Mavropanos who is expected to be declared fit.
Edson Alvarez will start alongside Tomas Soucek. They will form the double pivot in the midfield and look to control the pace of the game. Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus will feature on the flanks hoping to provide the much-needed width to their attacks. Lucas Paqueta will start as the attacking midfielder, while Michail Antonio will lead the line for West Ham.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio
Key Stats
- Chelsea have won 54 of the 121 matches played against West Ham United, who have 44 wins to their name.
- The Blues have only lost one out of their 17 home games against West Ham in the league.
- West Ham won the reverse fixture and can complete a league double over Chelsea for the third time in the competition.
- In the London Derby involving Chelsea and West Ham, the team that scores first has lost on 10 occasions.
- Chelsea have failed to win in 12 out of their last 13 league games that have been played on Sunday.
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
Palmer has done wonders for Chelsea in his very first season at the club. The 21-year-old parted ways with Manchester City to join the Blues in search of regular first-team action, and he has made the best of the opportunities that he has had at the English club.
The youngster has featured in 41 matches for Chelsea and has contributed towards 36 goals (23 goals, 13 assists). The English international will look to add to his tally when he takes the field against West Ham.
Prediction
Chelsea 3-1 West Ham United
Chelsea have half of their squad out injured despite that they managed to win against Tottenham last time out. They might not have enough experience, but their young players surely have the quality to get them the desired result.
The Hammers have been struggling for form, they have been winless in their last three games and things are unlikely to change in the London Derby. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the Blues at home.
