SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 2 hrs 3 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
WH
Premier League | Gameweek 33
Apr 24, 2021 at 5.30pm UK
London Stadium
CL

West Ham
0 - 1
Chelsea


Balbuena (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Werner (43')
Werner (35'), Christensen (42'), Mendy (90+3'), Kante (90+5')

Preview: West Ham United vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: West Ham United vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between West Ham United and Chelsea, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

West Ham United prepare to play host to Chelsea in Saturday's Premier League clash, and there is much more than just capital bragging rights on the line in this London derby.

The Blues reclaimed their place in the top four of the table with a goalless stalemate against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, while West Ham are now in fifth but only behind their upcoming opponents on goal difference.


Match preview

Arsenal loanee Joe Willock was the thorn in Tottenham Hotspur's side earlier this month, and the Newcastle United man once again came off the bench to sink another capital outfit as West Ham suffered a painful 3-2 defeat to the Magpies last Saturday.

The tie seemed destined to end with the spoils shared following goals from Issa Diop at both ends of the pitch, as well as a Joelinton strike and Jesse Lingard's penalty, but Willock directed a powerful header past Lukasz Fabianski in a major blow to West Ham's Champions League aspirations.

David Moyes's surprise package remain firmly in contention for a top-four finish, but defeat at St James' Park gave Chelsea the opportunity to leapfrog them in the table - a chance which they took - and the Blues' superior goal difference means that West Ham sit fifth with six games of the season remaining.

Moyes has now seen his side ship at least two goals in their last four Premier League matches - a statistic that will become all the more worrying now that Craig Dawson is suspended for this game - but home is where the heart is for the Hammers, as they have taken 13 points from the last 15 on offer at the London Stadium.

Only Manchester City can boast a better home record than West Ham in the 2020-21 campaign, and Moyes's side are also unbeaten in their last five London derbies at home before this pivotal showdown with Chelsea, who will be aiming to end a tumultuous week in perfect fashion.

Petr Cech becoming embroiled in fan protests outside Stamford Bridge symbolised football's response to the proposed European Super League - which Chelsea were one of the founding members of - but during their game with Brighton on Tuesday evening, news of the Premier League's Big Six dropping out one by one slowly filtered through to jubilant supporters.

Affairs on the pitch were much duller, however, as neither Chelsea nor Brighton - reduced to 10 men in the dying minutes after Ben White was sent off - could find a way through at Stamford Bridge, as Thomas Tuchel's fatigued outfit were unable to build on their recent FA Cup and Champions League successes.

However, that point was enough to see the Blues break back into the top four of the table, and Leicester City - who have a game in hand - are only one point clear of Chelsea in third before they face West Bromwich Albion on Thursday, although the Foxes will certainly be expected to steer clear in that fixture.

That infamous home thrashing at the hands West Brom was an early blot on Tuchel's notebook, but the former Borussia Dortmund manager is yet to lose away from home since succeeding Frank Lampard and will be aiming to stretch his unbeaten run on the road to 10 matches across all competitions this weekend.

Tuchel could become the first Chelsea manager in history to navigate his first 10 away games unbeaten on Saturday, and the Blues eased to a 3-0 triumph over West Ham back in December, during which the forgotten man Tammy Abraham netted twice.

West Ham United Premier League form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L

Chelsea Premier League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D

Chelsea form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D

Team News

As mentioned, Dawson's two yellow cards in the Newcastle defeat means that he is suspended for this fixture, so Fabian Balbuena could deputise at the back if Aaron Cresswell fails to overcome a thigh problem in time.

Recent reports regarding Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku's fitness have not been positive, so Ben Johnson could start on the left once again, while star man Lingard was also forced off at St James' Park but is not thought to be carrying anything more serious than cramp.

Chelsea-linked Declan Rice will not get the opportunity to impress against his former club as he nurses a knee problem, while Michail Antonio remains on the long-term absentee list for the hosts.

As for the Blues, Mateo Kovacic's hamstring problem is the only major concern for Tuchel, who should be able to call upon Thiago Silva after he sat out the goalless stalemate with Brighton.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell also enjoyed rare rests in midweek and the duo should displace Kurt Zouma and Marcos Alonso this weekend, while N'Golo Kante is another player who is surely set to earn a recall to the first XI.

Kante's return could push Mason Mount further forward as Hakim Ziyech makes way, while Timo Werner is aiming to displace Christian Pulisic on the left-hand side of the attack.

Kepa Arrizabalaga kept Edouard Mendy out of the team for the visit of Brighton, but the former Rennes man will likely return in between the sticks this weekend.

West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Ogbonna, Diop, Balbuena; Coufal, Soucek, Noble, Johnson; Fornals; Bowen, Lingard

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Werner; Havertz


We say: West Ham United 1-1 Chelsea

West Ham have been hit with injuries and suspensions at the worst time possible, but this should still be a fascinating battle between one of the best home teams in the league and Tuchel's away-day specialists.

The Blues have only managed to win one of their last four league games as FA Cup and Champions League fatigue catches up to them, and with West Ham boasting a respectable home record against their London rivals, we expect this clash to finish all square in a result that will not do much good for either's side's top-four hopes.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__444228 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:43:10:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:43:10 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Steve Bruce not "jumping and hollering" after dramatic West Ham win
"Of course" - Van Nistelrooy makes huge managerial claim ahead of Amorim move
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Can Chelsea learn from Arsenal mistakes? Ex-scout suggests next phase for Estevao

1

CC

Double reunion in doubt? Arteta gives Rice, Havertz injury updates before Chelsea

2

DR

"It's my fault": Glasner takes blame for Nketiah injury amid 'suspicious' reports

NEW

3

&M

Amorim receives major injury boost ahead of Man United arrival

4

AR

Preview: Nott'm Forest vs. Newcastle - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PN

Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PR

Preview: Chelsea vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PC

Cubarsi to play in a mask? Predicted Barcelona XI vs. Real Sociedad

8

CT

Will Chelsea or Arsenal win five-goal spectacular? Premier League GW11 predictions

9

WC

Team News: Real Madrid vs. Osasuna injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

10

TN


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .