West Ham vs Chelsea Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Both teams to score

West Ham’s Struggles Continue

West Ham have endured a difficult start to the Premier League season, with just one win from their opening four league matches (D1, L2). This is part of a broader slump, as the Hammers have managed only three victories in their last 15 top-flight outings (D5, L7).

Their most recent match, a 1-1 draw against Fulham, was a disappointment, but a last-gasp 95th-minute equaliser salvaged a point.

Despite that, the team’s slow start under manager Julen Lopetegui has drawn criticism, with some likening West Ham to a “rally car being driven by a pensioner” due to their sluggish performances.

With around £155m spent on nine summer signings, the pressure is mounting on Lopetegui to turn things around.

His personal head-to-head record against Chelsea offers some hope (W2, D1, L2), including a 1-0 victory in their only Premier League clash while he was in charge of Wolves.

However, replicating that result could be difficult, especially considering West Ham haven’t kept a home clean sheet in the league since January.

Chelsea’s Road to Improvement

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have made a slightly more promising start to their Premier League campaign, picking up seven points from their first four matches (W2, D1, L1).

They come into this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, which marked their fourth consecutive away league victory.

A fifth straight away win would match their best run since December 2021, but achieving it in a London derby could be a tough task.

Chelsea have struggled at West Ham in recent years, winning just one of their last seven away head-to-heads (D2, L4). To change that, they’ll likely need to score, as their 1-0 clean sheet at Bournemouth was their only shutout in their last 18 away Premier League matches.

Players to Watch

Danny Ings (West Ham)  

Ings nearly left West Ham in the summer transfer window, but he repaid Julen Lopetegui’s faith by scoring against Fulham. Interestingly, all of his last six Premier League goals have come after half-time, making him a key threat in the second half of matches.

Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)

Nkunku has made an impressive start to his Chelsea career, scoring three goals in the Premier League this season, all of which have been the opening goals. He will be crucial if Chelsea are to break through West Ham’s defence and continue their strong away form.

West Ham’s Defensive Woes and Chelsea’s Road Form

• West Ham’s home form: No clean sheet in the league since January.
• Recent top-flight form: Just one win in their last 15 matches (W3, D5, L7).
• Chelsea’s recent away form: Four consecutive away league wins.
• Clean sheets in away league games: Only one shutout in their last 18 matches.

Conclusion

West Ham will be desperate to turn their fortunes around after a poor start to the season, but they face a Chelsea side that is in solid form on the road.

The Hammers’ defensive issues, especially at home, combined with Chelsea’s attacking prowess, suggest this could be a challenging match for Julen Lopetegui’s side. Chelsea’s recent dominance in away fixtures, however, is balanced by their struggles in past visits to West Ham.

Prediction: Chelsea to win narrowly, with both sides likely to score.

For more info on this game, you may also visit:
West Ham v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League