West Ham welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium in a blockbuster London derby, as both teams battle for a top four finish.
Victory for West Ham would see them leapfrog Chelsea into fourth, whereas Thomas Tuchel’s Blues will stay fourth and move three points clear of the Hammers with a win.
Team News
Craig Dawson is suspended for West Ham after being booked in their 3-2 defeat at Newcastle last weekend.
Arthur Masuaku (knee) and Aaron Cresswell (hamstring) are doubts but Michail Antonio (hamstring) and Declan Rice (knee) remain ruled out.
Chelsea could welcome Thiago Silva back after he missed Tuesday’s goalless draw against Brighton with fatigue.
Mateo Kovacic remains absent with a hamstring injury.
Stat Attack
- West Ham are unbeaten in four of their last six meetings against Chelsea (W2, D2, L2).
- Chelsea have won just one of their last five league trips to West Ham (W1, D1, L3), with all three defeats coming by one goal margins.
- West Ham are looking to score three goals in two consecutive home league games against Chelsea for the first time since mid 70s, winning 3-1 in January 1973 then 3-0 in March 1974.
- All six of Jorginho’s league goals for Chelsea this season have come from the penalty spot.
- Jesse Lingard has scored five goals in West Ham’s last four home games.
Prediction
With five games left for both clubs after this match, defeat here would be quite damaging for the top four hopes of either team.
West Ham though need to improve their first half performance because they just failed to really get going at Newcastle, yet looked their usual selves in the second half despite being reduced to ten men with a strong attacking display undone by a defensive mistake.
Chelsea meanwhile have faced two physical encounters in the last week, which was quite evident on Tuesday in how they struggled to often break Brighton down creatively and I do think we could well see the same if West Ham can tighten up their defensive game.
Either way, David Moyes has got his Hammers full of confidence in attack with at least two goals in four of their last five games so Chelsea need to put their London Stadium hoodoo aside if want at least a draw because this will be an attacking contest.
Prediction: West Ham 2-2 Chelsea
Result: West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
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