West Ham got off to something of a horror start in the Premier League, falling to a 3-0 humbling against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Now the Hammers face a much-improved Chelsea side, recently crowned Club World Champions, at the London Stadium on Friday night. Michael Oliver takes charge of a game Enzo Maresca will be desperate to win after his team’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter will be eager to show his old club what they’re missing — though at the moment, that isn’t much at all. For Chelsea, it seems to be a case of no Roman Abramovich, no problem, with the Blues continuing to spend heavily.
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João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and others have all been added to their squad, while West Ham’s transfer activity has been… let’s say less ambitious.
Team News
It’s more of the same for the Hammers. Crysencio Summerville remains unavailable, and there are unlikely to be any new midfield arrivals despite vice-chair Karren Brady claiming work is being done. Luis Guilherme has severe bruising on his orbital bone and won’t be available, though the injury is not thought to be long-term.
Potter is likely to stick with a similar side to the one that lost at Sunderland, but Callum Marshall could return following his suspension.
Luis Guilherme missed West Ham’s opener due to injury
Prediction
It’s hard to see anything other than a Chelsea win. While West Ham may show more resistance than they did at the Stadium of Light, Potter is likely to park the bus, the tank— and maybe a few Deliveroo mopeds too — to cope with Chelsea’s pace.
Prediction: West Ham 1-3 Chelsea
Predicted Line-Up (Potter)
Position Player
GK Hermansen
CB Todibo
CB Kilman
CB Aguerd
RWB Wan-Bissaka
CDM Potts
CM Ward-Prowse
CM Paquetá
LWB Diouf
CF Bowen
CF Füllkrug
What I’d Do
Position Player
GK Hermansen
RB Wan-Bissaka
CB Todibo
CB Mavropanos
LB Walker-Peters
CDM Álvarez
CM Potts
CAM Paquetá
RW Bowen
LW Diouf
CF Füllkrug