Top four chasers Chelsea host London rivals West Ham

Chelsea host West Ham on Monday evening at Stamford Bridge in the knowledge that if the Blues win this fixture they can leapfrog London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal into third place.

Fellow Londoners West Ham have ambitions of a top-half finish but will stay 11th whatever the result, although a win would put them just two points behind seventh-placed Leicester.

In the Hammers’ last league outing, Manuel Pellegrini’s side welcomed Everton to the London Stadium. Marco Silva’s Toffees dominated the tie and ran out 2-0 victors thanks to first-half goals from Bernard and Kurt Zouma.

West Ham’s Chilean manager addressed the recent defeat as well as his side’s mounting injury list during his pre-match press conference.

He said:

“Of course I was not happy and I did not want to give excuses afterwards. When you play so badly in both boxes of course it is a bad game.

“You must understand that we played with eight players injured. Any squad would feel those injuries. It happened and now we must look to Chelsea and think positively.”

The hosts, on the other hand, dispatched comfortably of Brighton on Wednesday. One of the Blues’ best performances under Maurizio Sarri saw goals from Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek blow the Seagulls away.

The Chelsea manager praised the way two academy graduates, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi, performed in that impressive win.

He said:

“Very well, but I was sure about it as I said in the press conference, Callum is ready to play every game, also in the most difficult matches because he improved a lot during the season and I was sure about his performance.

“He played very well but I am really happy with him because we defended very well.

“It’s important to have three offensive players able to defend otherwise the balance is a problem so tactically now he is ready.

“Loftus is without his back problem now so was able to train every day and he played very well and after 75 he had a little problem with his hamstring, nothing serious, just cramp I think, but tomorrow I want to be sure of his back.”

The last meeting between these two sides saw a goalless draw played out in September. Chelsea had dominated the game but crucial stops from Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski ensured the points were shared.

Team News

West Ham

West Ham have continuing injuries for Andy Carroll, Carlos Sanchez, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jack Wilshere and Winston Reid. Those five are not available.

Felipe Anderson and Samir Nasri couldn’t play the last game but they have worked with the squad.

Chelsea

Chelsea are without any serious injury threats and may opt to play a strong squad against West Ham in order to pick up the much needed three points.