Chelsea vs West Ham United: Team News, Lineups, Match Facts, and Prediction

Chelsea versus West Ham United is the first Boxing Day clash, and all eyes will be on both teams, as both have been flying high after good performances. Chelsea are the table-toppers, who have yet to put a foot wrong in their title campaign, having lost a solitary game to Newcastle away, which was accepted only because Chelsea have always struggled in front of the Geordie fans. West Ham sit fourth in the standings after giving their style of play a new attacking dimension, as in addition to their ability to be powerful in the air, they can pass along the floor, with players such as Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho leading the attack, with Stuart Downing playing behind them in a number 10 role.

After last season’s drab draw in January, in which Chelsea fired 39 shots at West Ham’s goal, which the Hammers were able to resist through their ‘football from the 19th century’, as Jose Mourinho pointed out in a huff. The point earned by West Ham for that draw kept them in the relegation places, a fear that Big Sam does not have this season, as he attempts to continue West Ham’s good run for as long as possible, by picking up as many points as possible. Chelsea, on the other hand, will want to keep their lead, as Manchester City’s resurgence in recent weeks is being thwarted by Chelsea’s huge lead at the top of the table.

Both teams will want to win the game, to prove their top-4 credentials. One can expect attacking football from both sides, as no team is going to concede the post-match word battle by sitting back and defending. Both sides will dig in, and try to get a positive result from this game.

Chelsea vs. West Ham: Team news:

For West Ham, James Tomkins (thigh) is Allardyce’s only injury doubt, with all their players fit as of now. Diafra Sakho will want to make the most of the few games he can play before he leaves for the African Cup of Nations, with a record of almost a goal a game.

hazard

Mourinho could be without Eden Hazard after the Belgian winger hurt his ankle in Monday’s 2-0 win at Stoke City. Andre Schurrle or Ramires will be looking forward to the possible opportunity, depending on how Mourinho chooses to shape his team formation.

Chelsea vs. West Ham: Match facts:

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine Barclays Premier League games played on Boxing Day (W5 D4).
• Chelsea’s last five Boxing Day matches have seen a total of just six goals scored, since their famous 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in 2007.
• Defeat to Arsenal last season ended a run of three consecutive Premier League wins on Boxing Day for the Hammers.
• Allardyce has managed just two wins in 21 Premier League games against Chelsea (W2 D6 L13.
• Allardyce has no wins against Mourinho in the competition (D3 L5), but his three draws have all come in away games (in four visits to Stamford Bridge).
• Chelsea have won 12 and lost just one of the last 16 Premier League games against the Hammers (D3).

Stats from skysports.com (Opta).

Chelsea vs. West Ham: Teams (possible)

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois – Branislov Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta – Nemanja Matic, Ramires – Willian, Oscar, Andre Schurrle – Diego Costa.

West Ham (4-3-1-2): Adrian – Carl Jenkinson, James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Aaron Cresswell – Kevin Nolan, Alexandre Song, Cheikhou Kouyate – Stuart Downing – Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho.

Chelsea vs. West Ham: Prediction:

A 2-1 win for the home side, Chelsea.