Chelsea vs West Ham preview, predictions & confirmed team news as Roberto dropped

Chelsea welcome London rivals West Ham United to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this weekend.

It will see Frank Lampard, who came through the Hammers’ renowned academy, meet his former side for the first time as manager.

The Blues are currently on a three-match winning streak at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool the only visitors since January 2019 to leave the venue with all three points.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men, meanwhile, go into matchday 14 badly in need of a win. Defeat last time out against Tottenham Hotspur stretched their winless run in the Premier League to eight matches (six defeats and two draws).

Read on for our Chelsea v West Ham preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.

When is Chelsea vs West Ham and where can I watch live?

Competition: Premier League

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Saturday, 30 November 2019

Kick-off: 3:00 PM (UK time)

TV coverage (UK): N/A

Last five meetings: Chelsea vs West Ham

08 Apr 2019: Chelsea 2-0 West Ham (Premier League)

23 Sept 2018: West Ham 0-0 Chelsea (Premier League)

08 Apr 2018: Chelsea 1-1 West Ham (Premier League)

09 Dec 2017: West Ham 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League)

06 Mar 2017: West Ham 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)

Aggregate Score: Chelsea (WDDLW) 5-3 West Ham (LDDWL)

Ones to watch

Chelsea: Jorginho

All eyes have rightfully been on Chelsea’s young attacking players this season, but there’s no question of the importance their much-experienced deep-lying midfielder Jorginho has played. His debut 2018/19 campaign was a mixed one, so much so that there were a few occasions when supporters turned on him. Those days are long gone now and in what could turn out to be a frustrating game – considering this is a derby – the metronomic Italian may hold the key.

Key stat: Only Andrew Robertson (455) has completed more successful passes in the opposition half than Jorginho (425) in the Premier League this season.

West Ham: Sébastien Haller

Not long ago this season, West Ham were rubbing shoulders with the title challengers. However, a poor run of form has seen them descend nearer the relegation zone. At the moment, they sit three points above the bottom three. The Hammers badly need their record signing Sébastien Haller to rediscover that early goalscoring touch. And there’s no better place than Stamford Bridge to end the famine he’s been going through, if he comes off the bench.

Key stat: It’s now 486 minutes since Haller registered his last Premier League goal.

Team news

Chelsea

With Tammy Abraham out injured, Lampard has opted to give Olivier Giroud just his second Premier League start ahead of Michy Batshuayi. The Frenchman is flanked by Christian Pulisic and Pedro, who replaces Willian.

Further changes to the team that drew with Valencia sees Mason Mount replacing N’Golo Kante in midfield while Fikayo Tomori and Emerson come in for Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Confirmed XI: Arrizabalaga; James, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson; Mount, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Giroud, Pulisic.

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West Ham

West Ham have made four changes from the team that lost 3-2 to Tottenham last weekend, including a start for David Martin in goal – replacing Roberto.

Michail Antonio also starts after his impressive second-half display against Tottenham, replacing Sebastien Haller up front. There are also starts for Pablo Fornals and Fabian Balbuena ahead of Andriy Yarmolenko and Issa Diop.

Confirmed XI: Martin; Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Snodgrass, Fornals, Anderson; Antonio.

Squawka prediction

The form guide suggests Chelsea will come out on top. As we all know, the book on that subject goes right out of the window regarding a derby. However, West Ham couldn’t be in a more desperate situation, and they’ll be facing a slick Blues unit who should prove too much for the Hammers.

Scoreline prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Ham