Chelsea welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge in the first of two festive local derbies for Frank Lampard’s Blues this season in this week’s concluding Monday Night Football double-bill.
Victory could see Chelsea go fifth whilst West Ham can climb as high as sixth with a win.
Team News
Reece James is a doubt for Chelsea after suffering a knee injury during Tuesday’s defeat at Wolves despite playing the entire match.
Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi could also be in contention after recovering from hamstring injuries a week earlier than anticipated.
West Ham could be without Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Creswell after both suffered knocks to their ankles in Wednesday’s draw against Crystal Palace.
Fabian Balbuena could also miss out with a groin injury which forced him to miss their midweek game, as Michail Antonio nears a return from a hamstring injury.
Arthur Masuaku is still ruled out with a knee injury.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won just one of their last six meetings against West Ham (W1, D2, L3).
- West Ham have won just one of their last 14 league trips to Stamford Bridge (W1, D4, L9).
- Neither team are yet to score from a free-kick in the league this season.
- Jarrod Bowen is the only West Ham player to have played more than one through ball this season, creating two through balls in 13 league appearances.
- Chelsea’ Kurt Zouma is currently the joint-highest scoring Frenchman this season alongside Brighton’s Neal Maupay, with both players scoring four goals apiece.
Prediction
Chelsea come into this game off the back of a decent performance at Wolves, although their defending at times was poor which ultimately cost them on the counter attack against a high pace home team.
West Ham meanwhile found themselves engaged in a proper humdinger of a scrappy encounter against Crystal Palace last time out, in which they defended well against a feisty Eagles team but could of converted their chances better.
I am therefore expecting a proper contest because Chelsea will do most of the attacking but if West Ham can soak up the pressure, before hitting on the counter then they could extend their recent form against the Blues to seven games.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 West Ham
Result: Chelsea 3-0 West Ham