Chelsea badge in a circular inset, Graham Potter looking neutral
(Credit: Imago)
Josh Edwards
Thu 21 August 2025 13:39, UK
Graham Potter will be hoping for a full squad when they face Chelsea this weekend.
The opening day could not have been much worse for West Ham, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
After such a poor campaign last time out, it was crucial that the Irons got off to a good start, especially against a newly-promoted team, and they failed to achieve that.
West Ham face Chelsea next, and that challenge is only likely to grow in difficulty with Potter revealing the latest on his squad.
Graham Potter on the touchline in West Ham training gear.
Potter will return to his face his former club this weekend (Credit: Imago)
Luis Guilherme set to miss Chelsea clash
West Ham’s heavy defeat to Sunderland will have massively damaged morale within the squad, but fortunately, that is all it has done to the squad.
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Potter confirmed at Thursday’s pre-match press conference he will have a near full squad to choose from for the clash with Chelsea, though one player will be missing.
Luis Guilherme has a minor shoulder injury and is expected to miss the game this weekend, though other options will be available.
George Earthy was absent from the defeat to Sunderland, but he is back in training and could be in contention for the squad this weekend.
Edson Alvarez’s future at West Ham looks set to be clarified in the coming days, with the Mexican likely to be missing.
Potter refused to comment on Alvarez’s future, but it seems as though an exit to Fenerbahce is edging closer.
Two defeats in a row would be damaging for West Ham
Chelsea are a tough team to beat, but that is what West Ham are going to have to do if they are to put the misery of the opening weekend behind them.
Potter’s time as West Ham boss has been turbulent to say the least, and the longer these performances continue, the more pressure will surface on him.
Chelsea have gotten the better of the Hammers in each of the last three occasions, with West Ham’s last win coming back in August 2023, when goals from Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd secured a 3-1 victory at the London Stadium.
Two of those players are expected to feature at the weekend in Aguerd and Paqueta, and they will need to give a much better showing of themselves than they did against Sunderland.
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