West Ham United take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League’s 5.30pm kick-off as El Hadji Malick Diouf makes his first start since helping Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nuno Espirito Santo had a difficult decision to make going into another London derby.
The West Ham United boss has been impressed with Ollie Scarles’ excellent recent performances. As such, there was no guarantee that Malick Diouf would return immediately to the starting XI.
Give us your IMMEDIATE reaction to Nuno’s starting XI?
Is bringing Diouf back the right call? And would you have started Traore?
West Ham v Chelsea confirmed XI
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But return he does, ousting Scarles and making his first Premier League start since the 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa in mid-December.
El Hadji Malick Diouf returns as West Ham United travel to Chelsea
Diouf is the only new face to come into the team. Nuno has largely opted against changing a winning formula.
Adama Traore could make his West Ham debut off the bench, but Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos keep their places. Both will be hoping to open their Premier League accounts at Chelsea.
Crysencio Summerville celebrates with Soungoutou Magassa and Tatty Castellanos during West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tomas Soucek continues to keep Freddie Potts out the team sheet, meanwhile, partnering Mateus Fernandes.
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And Crysencio Summerville can score for a fourth successive match today. If he does so, he will become only the fourth Hammer to achieve that feat since Tony Cottee in 1986, following Diafra Sakho, Jesse Lingard and captain Jarrod Bowen.
Summerville can do something only three Hammers have done before! ⚽⚽⚽⚽
What do YOU think sparked his goalscoring run?
West Ham United's Dutch striker #07 Crysencio Summerville celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on January 17, 2026. West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates after assisting his side's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. Diafra Sakho of West Ham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on February 22, 2015 in London, England. Jesse Lingard of West Ham United celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on April 11, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
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