(+0.75)![]()
Analysis of the match between West Ham and Chelsea
West Ham could hardly have imagined a worse Premier League opener last weekend, as Graham Potter’s men were humiliated 0-3 by newly-promoted Sunderland. The English manager is already under heavy pressure, with The Hammers’ relegation odds shortening after just one round, as flaws in both squad depth and tactics quickly came to light.
Having won just once in their final eight home matches of last season — and following such a disastrous start — West Ham could hardly ask for a tougher opponent than Chelsea, especially given the Blues have triumphed in each of the last three meetings. To make matters worse, Potter has never beaten his former club in seven previous attempts as a head coach.
On the other side, Chelsea arrive with plenty of hype after their Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs, not to mention securing a top-four finish on the final day of last season. However, expectations have cooled somewhat after Enzo Maresca’s men delivered a lackluster display in their opening fixture, escaping with a fortunate draw in the London derby against Crystal Palace.
Maresca himself has only managed two away wins in his last 11 Premier League outings, and with three more London derbies looming against West Ham, Fulham, and Brentford, failure to collect maximum points could spark questions over Chelsea’s title credentials — with many already doubting their ability to stay in the race.
