West Ham v Chelsea match preview
West Ham manager Graham Potter believes his players will require quality, luck and a “huge effort” to secure their first points of the season at home to hefty spenders Chelsea on Friday.
In their first full season under Potter, the Hammers had 63% of possession but struggled to threaten meaningfully in their 3-0 defeat at promoted Sunderland in their opener on Saturday.
“Chelsea have a very talented manager and squad, off the back of a very successful summer,” Potter said of Enzo Maresca’s Club World Cup winners.
“We have to have a good balance between attack and defence and give everything. The fans will want a better performance and result.
“It’s disrespectful to Sunderland for anyone to suggest we should just turn up and win last week. We didn’t play to our standards and now we need to make sure we put in a good performance.”
Potter was on course for a first away win in charge when Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham the lead at Chelsea on February 3, only for his team to spurn a half-time advantage in a 2-1 defeat.
Maresca recalls that match as “difficult” for the Blues. “They defended very well and I expect the same,” he added.
“The Premier League has just started and they are trying to find solutions in the same way we are.”
One of the issues Maresca is trying to solve is the loss of ball-playing centre-back Levi Colwill through a long-term knee injury, using 19-year-old Josh Acheampong in his position for the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“It is not in my mind not to play out from the back,” Maresca replied to the suggestion that he may have to change his tactics to compensate for Colwill’s absence.
“You can be a little bit more direct when you play teams who are trying to be high-pressing, but it’s not in my mind at all to play in a different way. We used Josh in the last game. We are trying to find some internal solution.”
West Ham v Chelsea team news
West Ham midfielder George Earthy has returned to training following an ankle issue the midfielder sustained during pre-season and winger Crysencio Summerville is nearing a comeback from a hamstring injury.
Winger Luis Guilherme has a shoulder injury and full-back Kyle Walker-Peters could make his debut for the club, having been an unused substitute at the Stadium of Light.
Potter said Mads Hermansen will retain his place despite a debut to forget for the goalkeeper signed from Leicester City.
Nicolas Jackson is available after suspension for Chelsea but Maresca said the forward will not be used because he could be sold before the transfer window ends on September 1.
The Italian admitted his surprise at Tosin Adarabioyo recovering from a minor injury quicker than expected, while fellow centre-back Wesley Fofana was an unused substitute against Palace on his return from a long-term lay-off.
Midfielder Dario Essugo and full-back Jorrel Hato also remained on the bench and will be hoping to make their competitive debuts for the club.
Mykhailo Mudryk has not been in a matchday squad since December and was charged by the FA in June with violating anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test, with the winger saying categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.
West Ham v Chelsea predicted line-ups
West Ham starting XI: Mads Hermansen, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Nayef Aguerd, James Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodriguez, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Füllkrug
Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro.
How to watch West Ham v Chelsea: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra.
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