West Ham United host Chelsea in Saturday’s early Premier League kick off with the aim of moving up the table after a middling start to the season.
The Hammers’ only win of the campaign came against Crystal Palace back in August and they drew 1-1 with Fulham last time out. Manager Julen Lopetegui is attempting to build a more progressive and attacking side and will have been impressed with their early performances despite results not exactly falling their way.
Today’s opponents are Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Currently eighth in the table, the Blues are running hot and cold with a 6-2 mauling of Wolves followed up by a 2-0 defeat at home to Man City. Three points today will likely take them into the top four but there are questions for Maresca to answer over his best starting line-up with Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson fighting to lead the line.
Follow all the action from the London Stadium with our live blog below:
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
-
West Ham host Chelsea in the Premier League, live on TNT Sports
-
The Hammers drew 1-1 with Fulham last time out and hope to get back to winning ways
-
Chelsea will move into top four with a win
-
West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Kudus, Paqueta, Sumerville; Bowen.
-
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
-
10’ CLOSE! Palmer sweeps wide from a quick counter [WHU 0-1 CHE]
-
4’ GOAL! Jackson sneaks behind the defence to score an early goal [WHU 0-1 CHE]
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
12:46 , Chris Wilson
13 mins
West Ham are struggling to settle here, and they don’t look comfortable when defending or in possession.
Another long ball forward goes straight to a Chelsea defender, and the away side are happy to keep possession near their box briefly, before it’s fired wide to Palmer and then Madueke, but the attack breaks down.
Emerson leads the counter but he’s so isolated, though he does well to win a free-kick near the edge of the area.
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
12:43 , Chris Wilson
10 mins
CLOSE!
Sanchez comes to meet the long ball and Chelsea just about manage to clear.
The away side build from the back, with Cucurella sliding in a pass to Jackson in the channel. The striker darts inside and squares it to Palmer, who sweeps a shot just wide of the far post.
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
12:40 , Chris Wilson
7 mins
Great play from Bowen to turn Tosin on halfway, and he wins a free-kick. It’s spread wide for Kudus, and he whips in a lovely early cross that just creeps over the head of Summerville.
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
12:38 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
That goal was almost surreal. Jackson was pretty much clean through from halfway! Almost looks like he couldn’t even believe it was that easy.
The home side look to get back into it straight away but the attack breaks down.
Chelsea come again, but Sancho’s pass in-behind runs to Areola.
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
12:37 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
GOAL! West Ham have fallen asleep! What on Earth has happened there?
Chelsea win a free-kick near halfway and Jackson takes it quickly. He exchanges passes before making the run in-behind the defence, and he’s in acres of space as he surges into the box.
It’s a tight angle but he produces a great finish to sneak it past Areola.
West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
12:35 , Chris Wilson
3 mins
Palmer is clipped early on but the referee plays advantage. West Ham maybe giving an indication of what Chelsea are in for there.
The home side get their first chance to counter and it’s led by Kudus. He drives into the box and hits a half-cross, half-shot straight at Sanchez.
West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
12:34 , Chris Wilson
2 mins
Not a single starter or sub from today’s squad was involved the last time Chelsea won here, in 2021.
The away side have started fairly confidently though, knocking it around the back with plenty of composure.
KICK-OFF! West Ham 0-0 Chelsea
12:31 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF!
The home side get us underway at the London Stadium.
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
12:25 , Chris Wilson
Not far from kick-off in east London, with both sides about to take their place in the tunnel.
Maresca speaks to TNT
12:23 , Chris Wilson
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca tells TNT that it “nice to be back” at West Ham, where he “spent almost two years” as assistant manager, “with some good players and good human beings.
“For sure the results are always important. The main thing is to see how the team progress and adapt. I think we’re going in the right direction.”
On Jadon Sancho starting, he says: “It was not simple [choice] because we have more players. But we decided on Jadon and hope it is the right decision.”
Chelsea match facts
12:20 , Chris Wilson
Chelsea could win their opening three away games of a Premier League season for the first time since 2017/18.
The Blues’ 1-0 win at Bournemouth last weekend ended a run of 20 consecutive away matches in all competitions without a clean sheet.
In 2024, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have earned more points in the Premier League than Chelsea’s 42.
The Blues have been shown 16 yellow cards this season, more than any other side in the top flight. Eight of those came in their last game against Bournemouth.
Christopher Nkunku has currently scored more goals for Chelsea (6) than he has made starts (5).
Match facts
12:15 , Chris Wilson
West Ham could begin a season with three straight home league defeats for the first time if they were to lose today. The Hammers have faced a league-high 73 shots across their opening four matches, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 home league games since a 0-0 draw versus Brighton in January.
Lopetegui’s side have won only two of their 12 Premier League home fixtures in 2024 (D6, L4), beating Brentford 4-2 and Luton 3-1.
The Hammers are the first club to play their opening five matches of a Premier League season in London since Charlton Athletic in 2006-07. Their first league game outside the capital isn’t until early November.
Michail Antonio could become the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements for West Ham today – he currently has 67 goals and 32 assists.
West Ham v Chelsea head-to-head
12:10 , Chris Wilson
These two sides have met a total of 122 times, with the first meeting taking place in 1923. Chelsea have won 55 matches, with West Ham winning 44 and 23 ending as draws.
Chelsea have won 30 of the 56 Premier League meetings between the two – they’ve only beaten Tottenham more often in the division (35 times).
The home team won both Premier League matches last season: 3-1 for West Ham at the London Stadium and 5-0 for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
12:05 , Chris Wilson
Chelsea start WSL season and new era with win
12:00 , Chris Wilson
Their men are in action this afternoon but Chelsea’s women can kick back and relax having got the job done, just about, at Kingsmeadow last night. Jamie Braidwood was there to watch the start of the Sonia Bompastor era.
Chelsea require an unexpected hero to get Sonia Bompastor era off to winning start
Enzo Maresca backs players over strike threat
11:50 , Chris Wilson
Footballers are playing too many games and not enough is being done to protect them, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.
In the same week that Manchester City’s Rodri suggested fotballers could strike in response to fixture congestion and a lack of consultation from governing bodies, Maresca said that refusing to play “could be an idea” and hinted he believes players would be right to take action against the number of games they are being made to play.
Chelsea and City are due to take part in FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup in the United States next summer, further limiting the amount of downtime players will get in between seasons following Euro 2024 and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Asked whether he felt there were too many games in the current football calendar, Maresca said: “Yes, no doubt.
“In terms of games, it’s too much. I don’t think we protect players. We can say what we think and for me it’s completely wrong the amount of games that we have.
“The only ones that can do something are the players and we can help them. In the last two weeks some of the players have tried to explain what they think. I think it’s a good starting point.
“Some of them have said (they could strike). I think it could be an idea for them.”
Rodri warns players could strike over increase in fixtures: ‘We are close to that’
Julen Lopetegui not pre-occupied by potential Lucas Paqueta betting ban
11:40 , Chris Wilson
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has not spoken with Lucas Paqueta about the FA gambling charges and possible suspension hanging over the Brazilian, and admitted he is reluctant to load too much creative responsibility on to the playmaker after a muted beginning to the season.
The 27-year-old is facing a lengthy ban if found guilty of breaching regulations relating to “spot fixing” in four Premier League matches during the 2022/23 season, when it is alleged he deliberately got booked in order to influence the betting market.
The Hammers have made a mixed start to life under Lopetegui with just one win in their first four league fixtures, and are yet to pick up a point at home ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea at the London Stadium.
The limited impact made so far by Paqueta, whose only goal involvement came via a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, has not helped as the former Real Madrid and Spain coach seeks to transform the team’s playing style from the defensive football favoured by predecessor David Moyes into a more expressive brand of play.
The drawn-out nature of the FA’s disciplinary process means the former Lyon winger is likely to be available to play for much of this season, and the manager said he is satisfied with what he has seen so far.
“I’m happy with his behaviour and his commitment,” said Lopetegui. “He’s working very hard, he’s trying to understand what we want. We’re trying to help him to be better and better. He’s an important player.
“I don’t want to put this kind of responsibility on one player. He has to do the best he can about the offensive phase and defensive phase.
“When he is focused on the defensive work he is a much better player and we try to encourage him to always be focused in a defensive way as well as an offensive way.
“He managed (the betting scandal) in a good way. We try to help him, because until now he is one player more.
“But we don’t talk about (the charges). We talk about football, about the next match and about life. But not about this.”
Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection
11:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ben Chilwell has been handed a Chelsea lifeline after head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed he is under consideration for selection after returning to training with the first team.
The England defender appeared to have no future at Stamford Bridge in August when he was not included in the core group of 22 or 23 players the Italian considered to be his first-team squad, and was told he could leave.
However, he has been named amongst the club’s 25-man squad eligible to play in the Premier League, and ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham Maresca said the situation had changed.
Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection
Chelsea team news
11:27 , Chris Wilson
Enzo Maresca had made three changes to the side that snuck a 1-0 win against Bournemouth last week. In defence, Axel Disasi drops out for summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo, with Wesley Fofana moving to right-back.
Captiain Enzo Fernandez returns to midfield in place of Renato Veiga, while Pedro Neto drops out for fellow summer signing Jadon Sancho, who got the assist last week along with the man of the match award.
West Ham team news
11:22 , Chris Wilson
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has made just two changes to the side that drew to Fulham last weekend. Kudus moves into the striker position, with Michail Antonio replaced by Crysencio Summerville.
Tomas Soucek makes way for Lucas Paqueta as an attacking midfielder.
West Ham line-up
11:19 , Chris Wilson
West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Sumerville; Kudus.
Subs: Fabianski, Creswell, Soler, Coufal, Antonio, Ings, Todibo, Soucek, Irving.
Line-ups
11:17 , Chris Wilson
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Disasi, Neto, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku.
Team news on the way…
11:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A 12.30 kick off means a bit of morning Premier League team news – we will very soon find out this afternoon’s combatants at the London Stadium. Will Enzo Maresca stick with a settled side? Does Julen Lopetegui have a curveball up his sleeve?
Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise
11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca told his Chelsea players to continue to shut out external noise after they secured a second Premier League win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth last weekend.
The Blues remained in the headlines during the September international break after reports emerged of a rift between co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
It is the latest off-field problem for Maresca to handle after he fielded various questions over the future of several players during a busy summer of transfer activity.
Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
06:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good morning and welcome along to The Independent’s live coverage of the opening clash of the Premier League weekend. It’s to the east of London we head as West Ham prepare to host Chelsea in an intriguing little lunch-time number to whet the appetite ahead of a busy weekend in the English top flight.
Kick off is at 12.30pm BST.