West Ham United FC
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
Huge all-London clash sees 4th place Chelsea travel to 5th place West Ham in top four showdown
Chelsea to win 2-1
These games are what the Premier League is all about.
With the season coming to a close, the battle for important positions - such as who will win the league, or who will get relegated – have largely been decided. However, the battle for the top four is still wide open, with as many as four teams still in with a shout.
Chelsea are currently at the head of those teams, holding onto 4th spot by the skin of their teeth, despite having an excellent record under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, with just two wins from the last five, they watched as the likes of Liverpool and Spurs have closed the gap, while West Ham sit level on points.
The Hammers have suffered a little themselves in recent weeks, losing to Newcastle last weekend, although they were impressive in beating Leicester and Wolves in previous fixtures.
The winner of this will be favourites to claim that 4th position.
Form Guide (all comps): LDWWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Scored 11 goals in last four games
Taken 13 points from last 15 available at home
Reasons to be fearful:
Craig Dawson is suspended here
Conceded eight in last four games
West Ham are certainly a great way for any football fan right now.
They are scoring plenty, but also conceding plenty too – the complete opposite of how Chelsea are currently going about their business.
Unfortunately, that defeat to Newcastle last weekend has robbed them of the 4th position, temporarily at least, allowing their opponents to overtake them. They do have a relatively kind fixture schedule, with the likes of Burnley, Brighton, West Brom and Southampton to follow before the end of the campaign.
That said, you feel that if they were to lose here, they may not be able to make a recovery, particularly with the likes of Liverpool and Spurs closing fast.
Here, they will be without key defender Craig Dawson, who is suspended after being sent off last week, as well as long-term absentees Declan Rice and Michail Antonio.
Star Man – Jesse Lingard
Continued his fine run of form with another goal last weekend. Now has nine goals in the 10 games since signing.
Form Guide (all comps): WWLWD
Reasons to be cheerful:
Thiago Silva should be fit to play
Were able to rest several players in the last game
Reasons to be fearful:
Tough fixture schedule coming up with cup matches too
Will need to be at their best to see off West Ham
It’s a great position to be in, and one which many managers will be jealous of, what with Chelsea occupying a top four position, as well as being in the Champions League semi final and the FA Cup final.
They have a real opportunity to end the campaign with incredible success. However, it doesn’t come without its downsides, mainly that of player fatigue with the number of games they must play.
Following this fixture, they must travel to Madrid just 72 hours later. In the league, they also have Manchester City, Leicester and Arsenal to play before the end of the season. We saw in the dull 0-0 draw against Brighton the tiredness of their players, and that could be the same here.
Fortunately, Tuchel has a full squad to choose from, and has the luxury of bringing back the likes of Kante, Chilwell and Azpilicueta into the side.
Star Man – Mason Mount
The youngster barely misses a game for Chelsea, and usually comes up with an important contribution in the big games.
Could be a tight, even contest
Chelsea are perhaps slight favourites
Just a single goal to separate them
This could turn out to be one of the most important games between now and the end of the season.
Should Chelsea win, you’d think they would be favourites to claim 4th spot. If West Ham are victorious, it would put them in the driving seat. A draw would bring back Spurs and Liverpool into the equation.
It should be a great game of football, though Chelsea just have the edge.
Chelsea to win 2-1
