West Ham take on Chelsea in Saturday's London derby.

2024-09-17

In an early kickoff London derby, West Ham aim to rebound from their patchy start against a confident Chelsea side eager for a second consecutive victory at the London Stadium this Saturday.

West Ham United

West Ham narrowly avoided successive Premier League defeats with a dramatic stoppage-time goal from Danny Ings. Coming off the bench in the 82nd minute, Ings salvaged a point for the Hammers, who were trailing after a well-executed Fulham goal finished by Raúl Jiménez midway through the first half.

This Saturday, Julen Lopetegui's side aims to overcome their inconsistent start to the season, having secured only one win in their first four games. Currently, West Ham sits in 14th place with four points, poised for a London derby against Chelsea as Match Week 5 approaches.

The Hammers face the risk of three consecutive home defeats if they don't perform well against the Blues this weekend. Adding to their concerns, West Ham have historically struggled against Chelsea, with more than half of their 56 encounters ending in defeat.

West Ham is expected to line up in a 4—2—3—1 formation, featuring Michail Antonio in attack. Meanwhile, Niclas Füllkrug's participation remains uncertain, as he missed last weekend's match due to a calf injury sustained on international duty.

Chelsea

A late goal by Christopher Nkunku in the 86th minute, following a combination with fellow substitute and debutant Jadon Sancho, secured Chelsea's second win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth. The Cherries had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, but a spectacular save by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez thwarted Evanilson from netting his first goal for Bournemouth.

This win marked Chelsea's first clean sheet away from home in 18 matches. The Blues, boasting a form of [LWDW] and occupying the 8th spot with seven points, aim to continue their success with a victory at the London Stadium against West Ham. A win would not only give Chelsea back-to-back victories but also mark their fifth consecutive away win for the first time since December 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.

In terms of formation, a 4-2-3-1 setup with Nicolas Jackson in attack is anticipated, especially after he nearly scored against West Ham last weekend. There are concerns over Enzo Fernández’s availability for this London derby, and up to five players, including Malo Gusto, are confirmed to be ruled out.