West Ham United vs Chelsea Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

Saturday’s Premier League programme gets underway at the London Stadium as West Ham United and Chelsea go head-to-head in an all-London match-up.

David Moyes’ side rescued a vital point at Newcastle United last weekend as Lucas Paqueta cancelled out Callum Wilson’s opener to maintain the Hammers’ uplift in form. 

After a 1-0 defeat at fellow relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-January, the Irons have strung together three straight games without losing in all competitions (W2, D1), including a 2-0 home win over Everton.

However, there’s no room for complacency in the West Ham camp, with the 18th-placed Toffees lagging only one point behind going into this matchday. 

Although Chelsea’s top-flight status has never been in doubt, they’ve endured a thoroughly underwhelming season by their standards and are already ten points off the top four. 

Despite an eye-catching transfer market, Graham Potter’s side have drawn their last two Premier League matches 0-0 against Liverpool and Fulham, respectively.

It may take a while before a January splurge of over £300 million pays dividends, but time is the luxury the Potter cannot afford after overseeing just one win in the last seven outings in all competitions (D3, L3).

The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss has come under heavy scrutiny, which is nothing to be surprised about as he laments a poor 41% win record, the lowest of any permanent Chelsea manager since Glenn Hoddle.

Match Preview

West Ham United

Having earned just four points in nine Premier League fixtures (W1, D1, L7), West Ham have won as many in their last two league games (W1, D1), testifying to their mini-revival. 

Worryingly, Moyes’ men have suffered eight defeats in their last ten London derbies in the Premier League (W1, D1), including a 2-0 home loss to Brentford in their most recent such contest.

But given that they’ve only lost two of their last seven league encounters against Chelsea at home (W4, D1), including a 3-2 triumph in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, they have a reason to hope. 

Chelsea

Following back-to-back scoring blanks against Liverpool and Fulham, Chelsea could fail to get on the scoresheet in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since 2007.

Scoring has emerged as a genuine problem under Potter, with the Pensioners netting just seven goals in their last 12 Premier League matches (W2, D5, L5). 

But a morale-boosting run of three successive league shutouts may lift the spirits in the visiting camp, though it’s worth noting they’ve lost two of their last three top-flight visits to West Ham by an identical 3-2 scoreline.

West Ham United vs Chelsea Potential Line-ups

West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Lucasz Fabianski; Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna, Nayef Aguerd; Vladimir Coufal, Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta, Emerson Palmieri; Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma; Michail Antonio.  

Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Reece James; Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez; Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Mykhailo Mudryk. 

How to Watch?

West Ham United vs Chelsea, alongside all other fixtures in England’s top flight, is available to watch online via live Premier League streams.

West Ham United vs Chelsea Prediction 

Both sides have struggled in front of goal, so we expect another tepid contest, with a scoreless share of the spoils looking like a plausible scenario.

West Ham United 0-0 Chelsea