Football
Chelsea vs West Ham Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: February 3, 2025 Venue: Stamford Bridge Kickoff Time: 20:00 (UK Time) On Monday the 3rd of February, Chelsea welcome city rivals West Ham to the Bridge. The three Premier League points on offer make this an enticing affair – especially since the Blues are still relevant in the race for a top four finish! The leading Premier League betting sites ensures you have some skin in the game – which only adds to the excitement and intrigue of the fixture – so let’s get into this.
Noni Madueke//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Home: 7/20 (1.35) – 74,1%
Draw: 23/5 (5.60) – 17,9%
Away: 33/5 (7.60) – 13,2%
Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (All competition)
21/09/2024: West Ham 0–3 Chelsea
05/05/2024: Chelsea 5–0 West Ham
20/08/2023: West Ham 3–1 Chelsea
11/02/2023: West Ham 1–1 Chelsea
03/09/2022: Chelsea 2–1 West Ham
Chelsea Current Form – WDLLD
Chelsea is, at least in the Premier League, going through a bit of a bumpy patch. The concern is, of course, when does this come to an end for Enzo Maresca? The reality in the Premier League is that time is almost always of the essence, and anything less than perfection will no doubt attract pressure.
They have suffered defeat to the likes of Ipswich and dropped points against a placid Crystal Palace, but Maresca has done a superb job in his first season. The turnaround in this Chelsea side from just a season ago is remarkable and the platform they now have to bolster the squad even further ahead of next season should excite Chelsea fans around the world.
The manager was seemingly correct when he dismissed assertions that his side were challenging for the league – but that ideal no longer seems lightyears away for this team.
Key Players to Watch
- Cole Palmer: Yes, we are mentioning Cole Palmer again. Simply put, how can you leave him off a list of ‘key players to watch’ at Chelsea? He has enjoyed an incredible season; his attacking threat has been reinforced this year and the quality he adds to this Chelsea midfield is without doubt. Even where he has struggled for a bit of form (and for FPL players, points) his still finds himself at the heart of this Chelsea attack.
- Enzo Fernandez: Enzo has reminded everyone of his quality this year. He isn’t always a player in the headline s for the Blues, but he is certainly a player to watch here. His aggressive defensive approach and ability to turn defence into attack will always be a vital cog in Maresca’s wheel!
- Noni Madueke: Madueke is a player we have shone the spotlight on before, simply because he struggled to settle down in the Premier League which were compounded by injuries early on. Needless to say, he has now shown his incredible ability and is arguably one of the best wide players in England.
Chelsea Team News
Benoit Badiashile (muscle injury), Mykhailo Mudryk (personal), Romeo Lavia (muscle injury) and Wesley Fofana (hamstring injury) are all a doubt for this upcoming clash.
West Ham Current Form – DDWLL
Graham Potter has now once again returned to the Premier League, and he is tasked with ensuring that West Ham selvage what they can from this season and end off strong. That might sound rather negative and off-putting, but the Hammers have struggled to find consistency this season and so surely, they will be looking to set a platform for next season to be far better…
The injury to Jarrod Bowen earlier this season has proven to be a huge blow for the Hammers. He has arguably been their best player this season and without him they just looked vulnerable and somewhat toothless upfront.
Every league game is going to be vital for West Ham, and every point pivotal for their season.
Key Players to Watch
- Lukasz Fabianski: Since his return from concussion, Fabianski has restored a degree of confidence the Hammers’ defence. Areola had come in for a sort of cameo earlier this season, but it was simply disastrous. Graham Potter will know how important confidence is to his side’s chance and so Fabianski in goal will certainly be one to watch.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka: There have been times where Wan-Bissaka has just dissolved into the background at West Ham and not really stood out, but then there have been days where he has simply been their best player by miles. It will be interesting where Potter uses him, but he is likely to end up returning to right-back.
- Mohammed Kudus: He often finds himself being deployed on the right-hand side of this West Ham attack, but Kudus has to find consistency if he is to secure a place in Graham Potter’s setup. At the time of writing, Kudus has been expected to step up his game in attack and find a clinical finish for West Ham, but he is an intricate and yet also powerful player and so if he gets a chance, he will also be one to watch.
West Ham Team News
Jarrod Bowen (broken foot) and Michail Antonio (broken leg) are out injured for this game.
Predicted Line-Up
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1
Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Acheampong, Gusto, Caicedo, Fernandez, Sancho, Palmer, Neto, Jackson
West Ham: 4-2-3-1
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Killam, Todibo, Coufal, Soucek, Alvarez, Summerville, Paqueta, Kudus, Fullkrug
Suggested Bets
Here are SportsBoom’s betting strategies ahead of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and West Ham, crafted with insights from the best online football bookmakers.
Chelsea Win: The home win is a banker; one made with provident fund confidence! There is no way Chelsea loses this local derby; they have a balanced side all of their heavy hitters are fit and available and we think they claim all three points. (7/20 with Betway)
Under 3.5 Goals: Many have suggested that this game will be an absolute goal fest. We tend to disagree, Chelsea has no deficit in front of goal, but their defensive prowess coupled with West Ham’s inconsistency in finishing makes backing a high scoring game dangerous. (71/100 with Betway)
Chelsea + Under 3.5 Goals: For maximum value and potential return, combine these two betting strategies! (36/25 with Betway)
Value Bets
Chelsea Win to Nil: Back Chelsea to win to nil at Stamford Bridge. A real statement win. (31/20 with Betway)
Chelsea to Score First: We expect Chelsea to get off to a flying start here, they will look to put on all the pressure and so back them to gain an early breakthrough.
Cole Palmer (Anytime Goalscorer): Cole Palmer to score? The most cliché pick in the Premier League at the moment. Yes! Because why not make easy money good people.
Prediction: Chelsea Win (Emphatically)
We are all over Chelsea coming away with all three points here. Yes, West Ham have a new manager in Graham Potter (who will no doubt be wanting to make a point when he returns to Stamford Bridge), and the ‘new manager bounce’ theory is somewhat detectable at West Ham – but we can’t see past the home win. Bullish and all, back the Chelsea win!
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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