Chelsea v West Ham Preview
Let me make one thing absolutely clear from the outset: I loved Leroy Rosenior. He wrote for this website, is a smashing bloke, and as a kid on the North Bank at Upton Park, he was one of my West Ham players. Proper nostalgia stuff.
His son Liam Rosenior is now in the hot seat at Chelsea, and to be fair, heâs started pretty well. That said, heâs also become something of a meme already. Press conferences clipped for social media, half-time team talks doing the rounds⌠it all feels a bit contrived. If Iâm honest, itâs less Tony Robbins and more David Brent. Still, whatever we think of the delivery, the results are there â and Chelsea do look like a team again. Summer signing JoĂŁo Pedro, in particular, looked mustard against Napoli in midweek.
West Ham arrive with confidence
West Ham United will be looking to make it four wins on the spin in all competitions as we make the short trip west for a Saturday teatime derby.
Since seeing off QPR in the FA Cup, the Hammers have carried that momentum back into the league â a gritty 2â1 away win at Tottenham followed by a convincing 3â1 home victory over Sunderland. Suddenly, the mood at Rush Green feels very different.
The midweek arrival of Adama TraorĂŠ has only added to the buzz, and attentions now turn to Stamford Bridge with a chance to claw back ground on the sides above us, including Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea form and the Rosenior effect
Chelsea come into this flying, having won four on the bounce in all competitions, including an impressive 3â2 win away at Napoli in the Champions League. Roseniorâs Brentish team talks appear to have had an immediate impact, and heâll be eyeing another three points that could push his side into the top four.
Whatever I think of the press conference soundbites, his team are organised, aggressive, and playing with confidence â which makes this a serious test for Nunoâs side.
Team news: whoâs in, whoâs out?
Nuno EspĂrito Santo speaks to the media on Thursday and may clarify a few fitness issues.
For West Ham, Adama TraorĂŠ is eligible and available, while Ĺukasz FabiaĹski continues to be assessed after a recent back problem.
Chelsea will be without Tosin Adarabioyo, RomĂŠo Lavia, DĂĄrio Essugo and Levi Colwill, all sidelined through injury.
Rosenior did hint that Cole Palmer could start against the Hammers: ”
âHe is available to start tomorrow [against West Ham] and of course, we are really happy about that.
We want to make sure all our players are at their top level. Whether thatâs Cole, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez or whoever. These are outstanding players and when they are performing at their top level, they show that.
I think the impact Cole had against Napoli was excellent and he showed really good signs on Wednesday.”
Nuno looks happy after signing Traore who is unlikely to start
Predicted West Ham XI
I donât see Nuno tinkering here. TraorĂŠ feels like an impact option rather than a starter, and I expect the same side that did the job against Sunderland.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Areola |
| RB | Wan-Bissaka |
| CB | Mavropanos |
| CB | Todibo |
| LB | Scarles |
| CM | Fernandes |
| CM | SouÄek |
| RM | Bowen |
| LM | Summerville |
| CF | Pablo |
| CF | Castellanos |
Prediction: can the run continue?
Funny what two wins can do, isnât it? Confidence is back, the work rate is there, and the PabloâCastellanos pairing gives us a proper platform to build from.
My head says this is a tough ask at Stamford Bridge. My heart says weâre awkward enough, fit enough, and organised enough to make life uncomfortable for Chelsea.
A point would be a very good result.
A win? That would be transformative.
I can see us doing Chelsea. I just think itâs written.
Ah, a glass half empty type of guy! Just wondering where you saw it written though?
Silly me, I meant to say you’re a HALF GLASS FULL type of guy, @The Optimist. Good on you and let’s all hope you are right.
My missus is a Chelsea fan, so I have to follow them closely.
On 5 or 6 occasions this season they’ve had a player sent off, and each time that made them look ordinary, sadly I think that’s our only hope.
I only hope it’s not a repeat of the home match, and derails hope for wins over Burnley and Bournemouth, to give us any chance of dragging Palace and/or Spuds into this
Ps give my missus her due, she comes to West Ham matches, sings Bubbles and stands up pumping the air if we score.
@Steve F. If Chelsea have another player sent off then I hope it’s Toilet Brush, aka Marc Cucerella, because he’s a dirty but very good player.
And I’m thinking that your wife could now be at risk of getting RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) if she keps pumping the air as we are now scoring quite often!
Not sure why Fabianski suddenly gets a mention. I love our Lucasz but surely Hermansen was always going to be the deputy sherrif, as he has been since he was dropped from being the first choice keeper. However I would love to see Fab get a go in goal some time.
I know it was not PL, but Liam Rosenior did well at Hull City and we unfairly booted out. Rescued them from relegation threat to ~7th in the Championship the following year. If, and it’s a big if, he’s allowed some leeway at Chelski he’ll do well.
But just maybe not this week.
I donât understand where the optimism is coming from. We have just won 2 games against very poor opposition. If you take Fernandes and Bowen out of the suggested team and replace them with Potts and Traore that team wouldnât be good enough to get out of the championship.
I canât see us getting more than 35 points this season which I doubt will be enough to stay up. But in truth we donât deserve to
You’re definitely a glass half empty, Ted.
I think my worry is Moses Calciedo and Mark Cucarela trying to break Fernandez legs. They are a pair of wrongens
Left back swap incoming
31 Jan 2026 â Chelsea (A), Stamford Bridge
7 Feb 2026 â Burnley (A), Turf Moor
10 Feb 2026 â Manchester United (H), London Stadium
21 Feb 2026 â Bournemouth (H), London Stadium
28 Feb 2026 â Liverpool (A), Anfield
This is the reason why it was important to win the recent run of four less challenging games that we got all of one point from.
Chelsea won’t be easy, draw at best I should think, more likely a defeat. We must get points from Burnley and Bournemouth.
I’m wondering whether the tactical changes at WHU will end up being countered. Spurs were not expecting it and had no solution, wonder if this will change or if the fluidity in attack means WHU are always a threat. Chelsea must be one of the best defences in the PL.
Concerned they might look to close Fernandes down and we have no creative alternative.
I’m sure the team will give them a fight, perhaps even a scare. I’m hopeless at predictions, just wish the lads good luck. COYI.
Should Chelsea’s game plan be to close down on Fernandes we should find that we have space and time elsewhere for others to take advantage.
We have top class players and they should be clever enough to see what’s going on and take the ball through the path of least resistance. Do that a couple of times and Chelsea will react by laying off Fernandes. Do this at their peril. That will be the moment when Fernandes scores or assists. Then Chelsea revert. Pretty to watch.
Just hoping that we give it a go tomorrow and Chelsea are left to play on the backfoot.
Worst thing we can do is to sit back, try to contain and defend.
Wishing us luck too, Peter.