Another London derby awaits Chelsea this Friday, with the Club World Cup winners taking on West Ham United.
Chelsea kicked off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, so they will be looking for their first win when they travel to the London Stadium.
Palmer had a quiet game last Sunday, but West Ham will have to be wary of him, especially with the attacking midfielder scoring in the same fixture last season.
There are two players, however, who will not prove to be a thorn in the Hammers’ side this time around.
Outside view of London Stadium, inset mystery player x2
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Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho terrorised West Ham at the London Stadium last season
With Nicolas Jackson training away from the first team and Jadon Sancho no longer at the club, neither attacker will line up for Chelsea on Friday.
That is good news for West Ham, who could not find a way to contain the two when Chelsea won 3-0 at the London Stadium last term.
That day, Jackson scored twice, while the striker also managed to register an assist. Sancho grabbed an assist as well, setting up Jackson’s opener.
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Chelsea won that match because of their attacking contributions. Without them, it could have been a completely different scoreline.
Chelsea have since replaced Jackson and Sancho with some really talented attackers. But against Palace, things did not exactly click.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea FC celebrate with Jadon Sancho, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson
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Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens likely to replace Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho on Friday
Chelsea signed Joao Pedro to succeed Jackson up front, while Gittens has taken Sancho’s position on the left.
Pedro was excellent at the Club World Cup, scoring three goals in as many games, including in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. Palace, though, really managed to limit his threat.
Gittens also had a very silent afternoon, but with Tyrique George being the only other left winger at Stamford Bridge at the moment, there is a good chance that he keeps his spot for the West Ham game.
That being said, Pedro moving to the left and Liam Delap starting up front is probably a possibility that cannot be ruled out either.
Whoever starts in attack, they need to make the same kind of impact that Jackson and Sancho did last year.