Chelsea visit West Ham United at the London Stadium for their 120th meeting at luncheon time on Saturday as they seek to overturn their recurrent woes this season.

The Hammers have kickstarted the new year in amazing fashion, securing three wins and two draws so far which have lifted them above the relegation zone, in contrast to an humongous backslide for their visitors who are writhing in agony of a recurrent winless run since late last year.


While Chelsea are seated 9th, West Ham are in 17th as 11 points separates them on the standings with the two sides having accrued 30 and 19 points respectively.

The Blues are favorites considering their successive triumph against the Hammers having won four of their last five meetings with the only exception being the remarkable 3-2 loss to the David Moyes-managed side in December 2021.

In light of the record-breaking January transfer window in which Chelsea spent in excess of £300m on eight new signings, Graham Potter is faced with the challenge of salvaging the Blues’ sinking ship. Hence, the essence of the massive recruitment last month.

With Fulham holding them to a stalemate draw last week, a win at the Hammers tomorrow is imperative to ease pressure on the English manager and also to lighten a glimpse of hope for Champions League qualification next season.

Team News

The home side will be without Maxwell Cornet, Kurt Zouma, Gianluca Scamacca, Alphonso Areola, Thilo Kehrer who are all ruled out due to varying injury problems.

David Moyes is expected to hand January signing Danny Ings his first start while the likes of Paqueta, Declan Rice Paqueta, Michail António should make the lineup.

The visitor continues to nurse a myriad of injury crisis with key first team players including N’Golo Kante and others have been sidelined with injuries for a while now.

The positive news is that Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Joao Felix will be available for selection tomorrow as the loaner has completed serving his three match ban for a red card offence.