Chelsea and West Ham will face off in a crucial Premier League match on Sunday, with both teams vying for a top-seven finish to secure European qualification next season. The stakes are high as English clubs have failed to secure an additional Champions League spot, leaving just seven spots up for grabs.
Chelsea, currently in ninth place, have the opportunity to climb into the top seven with a win over West Ham. They could potentially leapfrog both Newcastle and Manchester United in the process. The Blues have been in good form recently, with a 2-0 win over Tottenham extending their unbeaten home run in the league to five matches. Their only defeat in their last 11 league games came at the hands of Arsenal, in a 5-0 thrashing.
West Ham, on the other hand, have struggled in recent weeks, with just one victory in their last eight league outings. They are winless in their last three matches and have dropped from seventh to ninth in the table during this poor run. However, they did manage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool last weekend, which halted their two-match losing streak.
In terms of team news, Chelsea could welcome back Levi Colwill, Raheem Sterling, and Christopher Nkunku from injuries. However, Reece James is expected to miss out on this match. Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva have also joined the injury list, adding to Chelsea’s existing injury woes.
West Ham have no new injury concerns, and Nayef Aguerd may be able to return from an ankle issue. Konstantinos Mavropanos is being assessed after missing their last two matches.
In terms of star players, Cole Palmer has been a standout performer for Chelsea this season. The midfielder has scored an impressive 20 league goals, with only Erling Haaland scoring more. Jarrod Bowen has been the shining light for West Ham, contributing to 22 goals in the league with his goals and assists.
In terms of managerial comments, Mauricio Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with Chelsea’s performance in their win over Tottenham, praising the players for their efforts. He acknowledged that Tottenham has quality players and credited Chelsea for containing them.
The match between Chelsea and West Ham will take place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, May 6, with a 2 pm BST kickoff time. Unfortunately, the game will not be televised in the UK. The odds for the match favor Chelsea, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 3/5 for a Chelsea victory, 16/5 for a draw, and 15/4 for a West Ham win.
Overall, this match is crucial for both teams as they battle for European qualification. Chelsea’s recent form and home advantage may give them an edge, but West Ham will be determined to bounce back from their recent poor run. It promises to be an intense and exciting encounter between two London rivals.