Graham Potter and West Ham United will aim to derail Chelsea’s hopes for a top-four finish in the London Derby on Monday night.
Monday night’s Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge brings an intriguing London derby, as Chelsea host West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. With former Blues boss Graham Potter returning to his old stomping ground, both teams have a lot to prove amid challenging runs in their campaigns.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have endured a mixed start to the new year, stringing together two wins and two draws before falling 3-1 to Manchester City last weekend. A promising opening goal from Noni Madueke, courtesy of a defensive error, had given Chelsea hope, but the reigning champions responded emphatically. Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden ensured the Blues left the Etihad empty-handed.
The defeat further cements Chelsea’s inconsistencies this season. They are now well off the Premier League title race and face an uphill battle to secure even a top-seven finish. Despite showing moments of promise, Chelsea have won just one of their last seven league matches, with defensive lapses frequently undoing their good work.
Particularly concerning for Maresca is Chelsea’s form at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have conceded in ten of their 11 home league games this term, keeping just one clean sheet — a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. Holding onto leads has also proven challenging, with Chelsea scoring first in five of their last six matches but failing to secure the desired results.
Meanwhile, West Ham United have experienced their own set of struggles under Graham Potter. The Hammers’ 1-1 draw against Aston Villa last weekend was another frustrating result, as they failed to capitalise on several opportunities. Jacob Ramsey gave Villa the lead, but an Emerson Palmieri header salvaged a point for Potter’s men, who could have won it through Tomas Soucek late on.
West Ham have shown signs of improvement, stitching a seven-match scoring streak on the road across all competitions. However, their away form will need to be significantly better if they are to challenge Chelsea. Potter faces the daunting task of becoming the first former Chelsea manager to beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League game.
Recent history does not favour West Ham, who were dismantled 3-0 by Chelsea at home in September. The Hammers also suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge late last season. Potter’s side will need a far more cohesive and resilient performance to overturn their poor record in this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca will have to navigate yet another match without several players due to injuries and suspension. Mykhaylo Mudryk remains unavailable as he serves a suspension, while Omari Kellyman (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), and Benoit Badiashile (thigh) are all ruled out.
Much of the pre-match discussion has centred on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was culpable for Erling Haaland’s goal at the Etihad and has now committed five errors leading directly to goals in the Premier League this season. This figure is the joint-highest in the division, alongside Ipswich Town’s Arijanet Muric. Despite calls for change, Maresca has publicly backed Sanchez, meaning he is expected to retain his spot as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for now. Filip Jorgensen, however, remains ready for his chance.
Chelsea are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Robert Sanchez in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Reece James at right-back, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill at centre-back, and Marc Cucurella at left-back.
In midfield, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are set to anchor the team, providing both defensive stability and creative impetus. The attacking midfield trio will likely feature Noni Madueke on the right wing, Cole Palmer in the central playmaking role, and Pedro Neto on the left wing. Leading the line, Nicolas Jackson will be tasked with converting Chelsea’s attacking movements into goals as the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
West Ham United
Graham Potter shared encouraging news on Jarrod Bowen, revealing that the winger has participated in training and is “hopeful” of featuring in the London derby. However, Lucas Paqueta remains a doubt due to a lingering groin issue. The Irons will also be without Crysencio Summerville (hamstring), Michail Antonio (leg), Niclas Fullkrug (thigh), and Jean-Clair Todibo (unspecified).
On the defensive front, Konstantinos Mavropanos is back from suspension and is expected to reclaim his spot in the backline, likely replacing veteran defender Aaron Cresswell. Potter will hope for an improved display as his side seeks a positive result against Chelsea.
West Ham United are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Alphonse Areola will take his place between the sticks, with a back three consisting of Vladimir Coufal, Max Kilman, and Mavropanos providing defensive solidity.
In the wing-back positions, Aaron Wan-Bissaka will occupy the right flank, while Emerson Palmieri will operate on the left. The midfield duo of Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez will anchor the central areas, tasked with breaking up play and initiating transitions.
Further up the pitch, Lucas Paqueta, if fit, will partner Mohammed Kudus in the advanced midfield roles, supporting lone striker Jarrod Bowen, who is hopeful of returning to lead the line for the Irons.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Areola; Coufal, Kilman, Mavropanos; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Emerson; Paqueta, Kudus; Bowen
Key Stats
- Chelsea have won their last two Premier League meetings with West Ham by an aggregate score of 8-0. They last won three in a row against the Hammers between 2010 and 2011.
- West Ham have won just one of their last 18 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D4 L13), with their last win being a 1-0 victory in November 2019. They’ve lost the last four meetings at Stamford Bridge.
- Since Christmas, Chelsea have scored the opening goal in five of their six Premier League games but have managed to win only one of those (D2 L2). Chelsea have dropped 10 points from winning positions during this period, with only Spurs dropping more (11).
- West Ham have conceded nine Premier League goals in the opening 10 minutes of matches this season—more than any other side and their most in a single campaign. Chelsea, on the other hand, have scored five goals in the first 10 minutes, second only to Brentford (6).
- Chelsea have lost three of their last six Premier League games (W1 D2), which is as many losses as they suffered in their previous 32 matches combined (W19 D10 L3). Since December 26, Chelsea rank 15th in the Premier League form table.
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
Operating as the central playmaker in Enzo Maresca’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, Palmer has been the driving force behind many of Chelsea’s attacking moves. His knack for threading precise passes and creating goalscoring opportunities has been instrumental in keeping Chelsea’s offense ticking, even during their inconsistent spell.
What sets Palmer apart is his composure on the ball and his ability to read the game. Against a West Ham side known for their physicality and resilience, his ability to exploit pockets of space and dictate play will be critical. With Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto flanking him, Palmer will have the perfect platform to orchestrate Chelsea’s attacks and provide service to Nicolas Jackson up front.
Moreover, the former Manchester City academy product is not just a creator but also a goal threat himself. His intelligent movement and sharp finishing make him a dual threat that West Ham’s defence will need to monitor closely. If Chelsea are to unlock West Ham’s organised backline, Palmer’s creativity and flair will likely play a decisive role.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
While Chelsea have struggled to find consistency, they should have enough firepower to edge out a West Ham side still finding its rhythm under Potter. Expect a tightly contested affair, with the hosts narrowly coming out on top thanks to their superior attacking options and Stamford Bridge advantage. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Enzo Maresca and his charges.