EPL: West Ham v Chelsea preview
West Ham v Chelsea preview
Two teams in contrasting form clash in a London derby in Saturday's early kick-off, as West Ham and Chelsea go head-to-head.
The Hammers find themselves stuck in the relegation zone with no wins in their last eight league games, with David Moyes collecting just one point from his opening four games in charge.
The recent stats in this fixture don't bode well for the hosts either, with West Ham winning just two and losing 16 of their last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea - including a 2-1 reverse at the London Stadium last season.
Moyes though will be boosted by the news that Javier Hernandez has returned to full training this week and could be involved, having been missing for the last five weeks due to a hamstring injury.
The Hammers are also set to hand a fitness test to Winston Reid, who has a hamstring issue, but James Collins and Andy Carroll are both expected to remain on the sidelines. The manager also has a decision to make over who starts in goal, after Adrian impressed in Joe Hart's absence last weekend.
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is expected to make changes from the side that started the draw with Atletico Madrid in the midweek Champions League encounter.
Marcos Alonso and Danny Drinkwater both started on the bench against Atletico and are likely to return, while David Luiz remains sidelined with a knee injury.
The defending champions, who lost in the League Cup to Hammers last term, are unbeaten in their last seven league games and have won each of their last seven Premier League matches played in December.
The recent stats in this fixture don't bode well for the hosts either, with West Ham winning just two and losing 16 of their last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea - including a 2-1 reverse at the London Stadium last season.
Moyes though will be boosted by the news that Javier Hernandez has returned to full training this week and could be involved, having been missing for the last five weeks due to a hamstring injury.
The Hammers are also set to hand a fitness test to Winston Reid, who has a hamstring issue, but James Collins and Andy Carroll are both expected to remain on the sidelines. The manager also has a decision to make over who starts in goal, after Adrian impressed in Joe Hart's absence last weekend.
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is expected to make changes from the side that started the draw with Atletico Madrid in the midweek Champions League encounter.
Marcos Alonso and Danny Drinkwater both started on the bench against Atletico and are likely to return, while David Luiz remains sidelined with a knee injury.
The defending champions, who lost in the League Cup to Hammers last term, are unbeaten in their last seven league games and have won each of their last seven Premier League matches played in December.