Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
With West Ham having seesaw results – their last six matches have alternated between wins and losses –, while Chelsea only lost a single game throughout March, it’s clear that the home team have momentum on their side. Funnily enough, West Ham’s last game was a 2-0 losing effort against Everton, the very side which bested Chelsea.
Although they might have that in common, Chelsea have been more consistent, besting Cardiff and Brighton in their most recent outings. Even their draw against Wolves was a much better performance than the Hammers managed against the team.
However, it’s not all been bad for West Ham. Their action-packed 4-3 win over Huddersfield was a thrill ride from start to finish. And they also managed a better result than Chelsea against Fulham. They ended that game 3-1: a goal more than their upcoming opponents.
Chelsea vs West Ham United Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Ham
Ultimately, our prediction comes down to consistency. The home team have quite simply performed better on average than their opponents, who have struggled to maintain momentum after some great showings. West Ham have what it takes to bring it to Chelsea but we have to gone on what is likely, not what is possible. And they simply haven’t maintained their best form often enough to think that they will snatch the victory here. Considering this and that Chelsea have won their last two games to nil – while West Ham’s last three losses ended without them scoring a single goal – our scoreline prediction is 2-0 to Chelsea.
Our recommended tip: Chelsea win to nil
With six places and 21 points between them in the Premier League standings, it’s no surprise that Chelsea – who could move into fourth place if they win this one – hold the advantage here. The home side have a huge 73% win probability to West Ham’s 10%. At Ladbrokes, the favourites have low-risk 3/7 match odds compared to West Ham’s high-risk 10/1 odds on a win. However, taking our scoreline prediction into account, we recommend that you predict Chelsea will win to nil to get low-risk 6/5 odds and a higher potential ROI.
Previous matches
Although Chelsea have double the victories of their opponents in their head-to-head history, it’s not the clear advantage it may initially seem. Both of their matches in 2018 ended in a draw and the last decisive win went to West Ham at the end of 2017. Chelsea won earlier that year, tying things up for 2017. And 2016 once again saw them win a game apiece, alongside a draw. You actually have to go back at least half a decade before Chelsea have any kind of clear advantage. The most relevant matches we can look at here suggest that this is going to be a close call.
Top 3 Premier League Bookies
Players to watch: Ruben Loftus-Cheek & Marko Arnautović
Chelsea: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
One of the most improved Chelsea players under manager Maurizio Sarri is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He put on a brilliant performance against Brighton, scoring the final goal and providing an assist. He also made it two for two in his last Premier League outings, having scored the winning goal days before against Cardiff. It will be fascinating to see just how much further he can go. Against a team as dangerous as West Ham, he has a chance to really test his mettle.
West Ham United: Marko Arnautović
There’s no doubt that Marko Arnautović has not been on the finest form lately. He is certainly not in the fans’ good books, having been booed off the last two times he played for the team at home. What will be interesting here is if the former top Hammers goalscorer can return to his past glory, with this being a fantastic opportunity to do so. This match may tell us a lot about his future with the club.
