West Ham United welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium for their second Premier League game of the season.
The Hammers got off to a terrible start last weekend, suffering an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Jamie Carragher thinks West Ham are in the danger zone this season, and he could be right as the Irons take on Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham in their next three games.
The first test is against the Club World Cup champions, and Graham Potter will love nothing more than a win – not just because West Ham need one but also to get one over his old club.
Predicted West Ham XI vs Chelsea
There weren’t any real surprises with team selection when West Ham United took on Sunderland in their opening game last weekend.
With Crysencio Summerville injured, Edson Alvarez in talks to leave, and Callum Wilson only just arrived, it was a nearly straightforward decision.
We expect Potter to start most of the players that started last weekend to get the nod again when Chelsea come to the London Stadium on Friday.
Mads Hermansen is set to continue in goal behind the same back three of Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and Nayef Aguerd, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf playing as wing-backs.
In the middle of the park, we think young Freddie Potts could get an opportunity, while James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta are set to continue.
Up front, we think it will be Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen again, which means Callum Wilson will have to settle for a spot on the bench for the second week running.
Predicted West Ham XI vs Chelsea: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd, Diouf, Potts, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Bowen, Fullkrug.
READ MORE: Micah Richards issues honest response when asked if West Ham will sack Graham Potter this season
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
West Ham’s last three results vs Chelsea are concerning
West Ham have struggled against Chelsea in recent times.
The Blues are the stronger side, having spent more than a billion over the years, and there has been only one winner in the last three meetings between the two sides.
Date Result
February 3, 2025 Chelsea 2-1 West Ham
September 21, 2024 West Ham 0-3 Chelsea
May 5, 2024 Chelsea 5-0 West Ham
West Ham have scored just one goal and conceded 10 in their last three games against Chelsea in the Premier League.
That is a really worrying record ahead of the game on Friday night as the Blues will once again be the favourites to win the game.