Chelsea returns to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening for a crucial London derby against an improved West Ham United.
Both teams are in need of points, situated at different ends of the Premier League table. Under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea is experiencing a positive turnaround, coming off a thrilling 3–2 Champions League comeback win against Napoli that secured their spot in the Round of 16.
Chelsea is currently fifth in the league, just one point shy of a Champions League position. West Ham, meanwhile, is looking to build on recent victories over Tottenham and Sunderland, although they sit 18th, five points from safety. Nuno Espírito Santo’s team has shown notable improvement in defense.
Chelsea vs West Ham United – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026
- Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Michael Salisbury
- Last Meeting: West Ham 1–5 Chelsea (22 Aug 2025), Premier League
Team News
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior confirmed that Cole Palmer is “fully fit” and set to start after providing two crucial assists in Naples. João Pedro is expected to lead the attack following four goals in his last four matches. However, Chelsea will miss key defenders Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Dário Essugo. Roméo Lavia and Mykhailo Mudryk are also unavailable due to suspension.
West Ham
West Ham has a nearly complete squad, with only backup goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański sidelined due to a back injury. Nuno Espírito Santo might give a full debut to January signing Adama Traoré, but the strong performances of Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen could lead to an unchanged front line. New players Valentin Castellanos and Pablo Felipe are likely to keep their starting positions.
Form
Chelsea
Chelsea is experiencing a good run, having won five of their last six matches in all competitions. Recent league wins include a 3–1 victory at Crystal Palace and a 2–0 win over Brentford. Chelsea has also outscored West Ham in their last four Premier League matches, 15–2. Captain Enzo Fernández has been instrumental, ranking third in the league for passes that break through to the opposition box.
West Ham
West Ham comes off a significant 3–1 victory against Sunderland and a tough 2–1 win at Tottenham. Crysencio Summerville has been in good form, scoring in his last two league games. However, West Ham has not kept a clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League games, and they have won just one of their last 19 away matches at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea Predicted XI: Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
West Ham Predicted XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf; Bowen, Souček, Fernandes, Summerville; Pablo; Castellanos
How to Watch Chelsea vs West Ham United?
The match will be live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, starting at 17:00 GMT.
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