Chelsea vs. West Ham United | Premier League | Pre Match

Chelsea past and Chelsea present will collide in Monday night's Premier League spectacle as the Blues prepare to host West Ham United at Stamford Bridge, in what promises to be a thrilling London derby. The match will see Graham Potter return to his former stomping ground, this time as an opponent, looking to make a statement against the club that once entrusted him with their managerial reins. Both teams enter the fixture with frustrations from their previous outings, as Enzo Maresca's men let an early lead slip against Manchester City, while the Irons rued missed opportunities in their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Chelsea were just 90 minutes away from completing an unbeaten January campaign, having steadied their tumultuous season with two wins and two draws to start the new year. Their clash at the Etihad saw them briefly dream of a famous victory when young defender Abdukodir Khusanov’s unintentional gift allowed Noni Madueke to put the Blues ahead. However, City’s relentless pressure eventually took its toll, as Josko Gvardiol netted the equalizer just before halftime. The second half saw Robert Sanchez’s goalkeeping woes resurface as he allowed Erling Haaland to capitalize on a moment of hesitation before the Norwegian assisted Phil Foden for a sublime finish, securing a 3-1 comeback victory for the reigning champions.

Maresca’s earlier assertions that Chelsea are not genuine title contenders have been reinforced by their inconsistency, as the club now finds itself battling to remain in contention for European qualification rather than a top-four finish. With Aston Villa and Bournemouth also vying for continental competition, Chelsea’s ambitions remain under threat. While the defeat to City marked their only loss in their last five games, a closer look at their performances reveals that only one of their last seven Premier League fixtures has resulted in a victory. Their inability to hold onto leads has been a recurring problem, with five of their last six league matches seeing them score first yet failing to secure all three points.

Stamford Bridge has hardly been a fortress for the Blues this season, as defensive frailties have cost them dearly. Maresca's side has conceded in 10 of their 11 home league games, with the only clean sheet coming against Aston Villa. These defensive issues will be tested once more against a West Ham side that has proven capable of scoring on the road, boasting a seven-match away scoring streak across all competitions. However, the Hammers' recent history against Chelsea is far from encouraging, as they suffered a resounding 3-0 defeat at home in September, following a humiliating 5-0 demolition at Stamford Bridge towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

West Ham’s recent fixture against Aston Villa was a missed opportunity, as Jacob Ramsey’s early goal put the visitors on the back foot. However, a well-timed header from Emerson Palmieri leveled the score, and the Hammers’ wing-back system continued to create overloads in Villa’s defensive third. Tomas Soucek nearly mirrored Emerson’s equalizer with a second header, but the Irons failed to capitalize on their dominance. The draw left Potter frustrated, as he searches for just his second league victory since taking charge of the club.

Potter’s tenure at Chelsea was short-lived, with his reign lasting just 31 matches before he was dismissed amid poor results and fan unrest. Now, he has the chance to achieve something no former Chelsea boss has done before—defeat the Blues in a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. With West Ham’s away form improving, the Irons will fancy their chances of securing a famous result, but they must be wary of a Chelsea side desperate to get back to winning ways.

In terms of team news, Maresca has confirmed that he expects to have the same squad available from last week, meaning no return for Mykhaylo Mudryk, Omari Kellyman, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, or Benoit Badiashile. Sanchez remains under the spotlight following his costly error at the Etihad, marking his fifth mistake leading directly to a goal in the Premier League this season—a joint-high alongside Ipswich Town's Arijanet Muric. Despite calls for a change in goal, Maresca has publicly backed Sanchez, though Filip Jorgensen is waiting in the wings for a potential promotion to the starting XI.

For West Ham, Potter provided a positive update regarding Jarrod Bowen, revealing that the forward has resumed training and is "hopeful" of featuring in the London derby. However, Lucas Paqueta remains a major doubt with a groin issue, while Crysencio Summerville, Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug, and Jean-Clair Todibo are all set to miss out. On the defensive end, Dinos Mavropanos returns from suspension and is expected to slot back into the starting lineup, potentially replacing veteran Aaron Cresswell in the back three.

Given both teams' defensive vulnerabilities and their tendency to create scoring chances, Monday night's contest promises to be an open affair. Chelsea will be keen to assert their dominance at home and return to winning ways, while West Ham will see this as an opportunity to claim a morale-boosting victory under their new manager. With Potter eager to prove a point against his former club and Maresca looking to solidify Chelsea’s European aspirations, the stage is set for an enthralling London derby.