Premier League: West Ham and Chelsea In Top Four Battle

West Ham United vs Chelsea

East London meets West for England’s match of the weekend when Chelsea head to West Ham for what promises to be a pulsating Saturday night fight.

Sitting fourth and fifth in the League table, locked on 55 points from 32 games and with the Blues ahead on goal difference alone, West Ham vs Chelsea is a clash of epic proportions.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea will be out of their Kings Road comfort zone when they arrive in the East End where no-one expects a cushy ride.

And especially this year, the Hammers have been formidable opponents in the Premier League. After a period of underperformance on the pitch and unrest off it, plus with a difficult move to the London Stadium and fan unrest culminating in a relegation battle last season, head coach David Moyes has galvanised the club and turned them into genuine Champions League contenders.

Talking Points

Lingard is in sensational form

The Premier League 2021 betting odds back an away victory but David Moyes’ Hammers will have plenty to say about that.

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With players of the quality of Declan Rice and Mark Noble leading by example, the unfancied Eastenders have taken the 2020/21 campaign by storm and the form of a winter loan recruit has moved them on to an even higher level.

Jesse Lingard has scored nine goals in 10 games since his arrival from Manchester United. He knew Moyes from the Scottish coach’s brief stint at Old Trafford and they have linked up again with devastating effect at West Ham.

The club has recruited well over the past couple of years. Midfield ace Tomas Soucek has scored nine goals this season — and some crucial ones at that — and he is not afraid to mix it up by picking up six yellow cards along the way.

After a slow start to his career in London, winger Jarrod Bowen has exploded into life in his second season at West Ham – scoring eight goals and making five assists. Meanwhile, seasoned centre-back Craig Dawson was a shrewd addition at the start of this campaign.

2021 could go either way for Chelsea

As the season fast approaches its climax, the Blues have three targets in sight so the campaign could easily end in triumph or disaster.

Since his arrival at the club head coach, Thomas Tuchel has transformed the team from one with huge potential to a winning unit. Now he needs to keep his players focused to ensure they collect some reward for their efforts.

Premier League Update: Hakim Ziyech scored the winner in Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Manchester City — Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech celebrates scoring their first goal vs Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi-Final

Chelsea are in the FA Cup final after ending Manchester City’s quadruple dream in the semis, but they have a really tough test against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City who currently hold third place in the league.

And the Blues are already in the semifinals of the 2021 Champions League, but they have a real challenge on qualify for Europe’s premier competition next season.

In the eye of the European Super League storm and with over a thousand of their fans protesting outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, the Blues limped to a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

They missed a big chance to climb into the top four and they need to recover their form rapidly to replicate the kind of performance we saw in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Both Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic created Premier League 2021 highlights that day and, alongside Hakim Ziyech who scored the FA Cup winner against Manchester City, they have the pace and skill to open up any defence.

If they can maintain their form, there will be success in the shape of silverware or at least a top four place for Tuchel to reflect on in his first six months at the club.

History

The Hammers have had a decent share of success in the head-to-heads, having won 15 of the 51 meetings during the Premier League era and they have drawn nine.

Chelsea have had the lion’s share of victories with 27 and they came out on top of the return fixture at Stamford Bridge, winning 3-0 in December when Tammy Abraham scored a double.

The Hammers are in good form at the London Stadium as they’re unbeaten in five and they have not lost at home to Chelsea in their last three encounters.

Betting Tip

	West Ham United vs Chelsea	Over 2.50 @ 2.03
	April 25, 00:30 (GMT+8)

West Ham are at SBOTOP odds of 4.20 to leapfrog the Blues into the Champions League places while the draw is at 3.55 and Chelsea are at 1.82 to earn a crucial three points.

There have been 21 goals in West Ham’s last four games. And while Tuchel will expect his team to attack with intent after their weak display against Brighton, I’m looking forward to an exciting game with plenty of goalmouth action.