West Ham United will entertain Chelsea at the London Stadium on Sunday, hoping to build on their away victory against Everton in the previous game week. However, the Hammers will clash heads with an in-form Chelsea side that has started this season with five wins in a row. Manuel Pellegrini will have a mammoth task of stopping the threat of Eden Hazard, who scored a hattrick last weekend.
The East London outfit beat the Pensioners at home last season, but with Marko Arnautovic likely to miss the game tomorrow, it would be a tough ask for them to secure maximum points from this contest. Pellegrini is expected to opt for a 4-5-1 formation to counter Sarri’s 4-3-3 formation for Chelsea.
Team News
West Ham United
Both Javier Hernandez (virus) and Marko Arnautovic (knee) are big doubts for this contest due to injuries. Jack Wilshere will also miss Sunday’s encounter with an ankle injury. This weekend could finally be a chance for either Michail Antonio or Lucas Perez to lead the lines for the Hammers up top.
Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri will be sweating on the fitness of Mateo Kovacic, Emerson Palmieri and Pedro, who are all significant doubts for this match. Willian and Olivier Giroud could start for the Pensioners on Sunday while Eden Hazard will also return to the first-team after being rested in midweek.
Predicted Lineups
West Ham United (4-3-3):
Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku; Rice, Obiang, Noble; Yarmolenko, Anderson; Antonio
Chelsea (4-3-3):
Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Hazard
Key Men
West Ham United
Andriy Yamolenko picked up a brace last weekend and was instrumental for the Hammers in their win over Everton. He needs to have a good game alongside Felipe Anderson if West Ham are to test Chelsea this weekend.
Chelsea
Eden Hazard is currently in a rich vein of form and will be expected to get his name on the scoresheet tomorrow. Jorginho and N’Golo Kante also needs to have a good game if Chelsea are to dominate the passage of play in the middle of the park.
Odds
West Ham United win – 5
Draw – 7/2
Chelsea – 4/7
