Chelsea vs West Ham: EPL Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

With London bragging rights up for grabs on Monday night, Chelsea will welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge for what promises to be an intense Premier League showdown. Both sides will be eager to claim local dominance, with Chelsea looking to build momentum and West Ham aiming to strengthen their push for European qualification.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

First things first, the hosts. Chelsea may have won a much-appreciated 3-1 game against Wolves, who are fighting for relegation, on January 20th, but last weekend, they crashed and burned. It is well-known that Enzo Maresca's squad is looking for some stability after a 3-1 setback to Manchester City.

Even though the former Leicester manager may be hell-bent on reclaiming the Champions League spot for Chelsea this season, the Blues have only won once in their last seven Premier League outings. On Monday, the hosts will know how crucial it is to find defensive steel after their surprising championship hopes have already taken a serious hit.

The Blues haven't kept a Premier League shutout since December 22nd, and they started the new year with a 1-1 draw away to Crystal Palace.

Graham Potter may have been West Ham's manager for a month, but the club is thriving under the guidance of the former Chelsea coach. The visitors on Monday drew many positives from a spectacular performance, even if they could not avoid a 1-1 draw away to Aston Villa last week. 

After kicking off Potter's term with a thrilling 3-2 win against Fulham on January 14th, West Ham will now focus on attempting to gain ground in the race for a playoff spot. As we begin February, the Hammers are almost in Premier League limbo, having won just twice in their last nine matches in all competitions. Despite his recent luck, Potter still has a challenging trip back to Stamford Bridge waiting for him on Monday night.

Chelsea x West Ham Team News

Last month, Chelsea announced that Wesley Fofana, a French defender, would be out for the rest of the season due to a chronic hamstring problem. Romeo Lavia, a former Southampton sensation, will also miss this weekend's game for the Blues due to an injury she suffered last month.

Cole Palmer, an English international who has made 23 appearances in the Premier League this season and contributed to 20 goals, will be pivotal. Trevor Chalobah, who was loaned out to Crystal Palace, will start in central defense for Chelsea.

Niclas Fullkrug, a former striker for Borussia Dortmund, continues to miss time after injuring his hamstring during the holiday season. Like last week, former French defender Jean-Clair Todibo will be sidelined for a few weeks before making a comeback.

Still, Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen's possible return to Potter's starting lineup on Monday night would be a tremendous boost. Lucas Paqueta, a Brazilian star who shone last week as a line leader, may start in the false nine position again in west London.

Our Predictions

Cole Palmer will score anytime @ 2.00 on Sky247.ng.

Chelsea desperately sought stability after last week's 3-1 setback away at Manchester City, which sent them back to earth. The Blues will be pumped up by their overwhelming record against West Ham, especially since they only managed one victory in their last seven Premier League matches. They have lost only once in their previous six Premier League encounters versus the Hammers. Their most recent victory was a 3-0 rout at the London Stadium on September 21st.

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