Two teams seeking their first win of the season on matchday two go head-to-head at the London Stadium in this weekend’s Premier League opener on Friday night, when West Ham United host Chelsea.
It was a disappointing opening weekend for both, as West Ham were humbled at Sunderland, and Chelsea flattered to deceive at home to Crystal Palace.
Match preview
West Ham’s Premier League opener could hardly have gone any worse last weekend, as Graham Potter’s men began with a 3-0 thrashing at the Stadium of Light away to Sunderland.
Odds on the Hammers to be relegated have been slashed after just one weekend, with underlying issues in the squad and with the tactics coming to the forefront instantly.
Potter is already under intense pressure after doing little to instil enthusiasm into the fanbase after arriving for the second half of last season, but after being given a full preseason, progress is expected.
If anything, West Ham looked to have regressed based on last week’s performance, and after winning just one of their final eight Premier League home games of last season, there will be discontent unless that is improved upon instantly.
Chelsea are not the ideal opponents, considering they have won each of the last three head-to-heads, and Potter has never beaten his former club in seven previous meetings as a manager.
The Blues won at the London Stadium last season, but it is 11 years since they won back-to-back matches away to West Ham, winning just three of their last 11 games on the Hammers’ turf.
Chelsea players Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez celebrate against Real Betis on May 28, 2025
There was a lot of hype surrounding Chelsea during preseason, given their Conference League and Cup World Cup successes, as well as clinching a top-four finish on the final day of last season, but expectations may have been lowered already after a very subpar performance on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s side could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace, and they were fortunate not to lose, as Eberechi Eze’s free kick was disallowed on a technicality amid much controversy.
Chelsea did not force Palace keeper Dean Henderson into a save until Liam Delap’s tame effort on 89 minutes, raising questions about some of their big-money summer signings, who showed little on their Premier League debuts for the club.
The Blues will now be looking to avoid drawing consecutive blanks at the start of a league season for the first time since 1995-96, when their first two matches both ended goalless, but Maresca has only managed two away wins across their previous 11 league games.
With three more London derbies to come in their next three, anything but nine points against West Ham, Fulham and Brentford will raise questions about whether Chelsea have any chance of being in the title race at all, with many already ruling them out of contention.
West Ham United Premier League form:
L
Chelsea Premier League form:
D
Team News
Newcastle United's Callum Wilson on May 20, 2024
Personnel changes are expected in the West Ham side after a dismal display in the North East last weekend, and one could be a full debut for Callum Wilson, who only came off the bench last weekend.
Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse as a midfield two is an experiment that is unlikely to continue, so Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Andy Irving are all in contention to start in this one.
There has still been no replacement signed for Mohammed Kudus, and Crysencio Summerville remains sidelined, so much of the burden in attack will fall on Jarrod Bowen, who scored 13 and assisted eight in the Premier League last season.
Chelsea are without long-term absentee Levi Colwill at the back, while Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo’s setbacks saw Josh Acheampong start along with Trevoh Chalobah, as Wesley Fofana is not yet fully fit.
Nicolas Jackson is back from a three-match suspension which carried over from last season, but Joao Pedro is set to start again in attack against opponents he has scored six goals against previously - a career-best.
Elsewhere on the injury list, Romeo Lavia is set to remain out with another minor problem, following a 2024-25 campaign that was littered with issues and setbacks.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Diouf; Bowen, Wilson, Paqueta
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Estevao; Joao Pedro
SM words green background
We say: West Ham United 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea did very little last weekend to suggest that they have improved much from last season, and their poor away form from 2024-25 is cause for concern.
While no team suffered a worse result than West Ham across the opening weekend, it is important not to judge too early, and they will be keen to make amends in front of their own fans under the lights.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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