Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening for a high-stakes London derby against a resurgent West Ham United.
Both sides are desperate for points at opposite ends of the Premier League table. Under the guidance of Liam Rosenior, the Blues are enjoying a transformative period. They arrive fresh from a thrilling 3–2 Champions League comeback victory over Napoli that secured their place in the Round of 16.
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the league, just one point behind the Champions League spots. Conversely, West Ham arrive having finally sparked their season into life with consecutive victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland. Despite sitting 18th and five points from safety, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side has shown significant defensive improvement.
Chelsea vs West Ham United – Match preview and team news
Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Last Meeting: West Ham 1–5 Chelsea (22 Aug 2025), Premier League
Team News
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior confirmed that Cole Palmer is “fully fit” and available to start after his two vital assists in Naples. João Pedro is also expected to lead the line following an impressive run of four goals in his last four appearances. However, the Blues remain without defensive regulars Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Dário Essugo. Roméo Lavia and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) also remain unavailable for selection tonight.
West Ham
The Hammers boast a nearly clean bill of health. Backup goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is the only confirmed absentee with a back injury. Nuno Espírito Santo could hand a full debut to January signing Adama Traoré, although the impressive form of Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen makes an unchanged attack likely. New arrivals Valentin Castellanos and Pablo Felipe are also expected to retain their starting roles.
Form
Chelsea
The Blues have moved into a positive period, winning five of their last six matches across all competitions. Recent league results include a 3–1 win at Crystal Palace and a 2–0 victory over Brentford. Notably, Chelsea have won their last four Premier League games against West Ham by an aggregate score of 15–2. Captain Enzo Fernández has been vital, ranking third in the league for line-breaking passes into the opposition box.
West Ham
West Ham arrive following a significant 3–1 home success against Sunderland and a gritty 2–1 away win at Tottenham. Notably, Crysencio Summerville has found his scoring touch, netting in each of his last two league games. However, the Hammers have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 20 Premier League games. Furthermore, they have won just one of their last 19 away games at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea Predicted XI: Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
West Ham Predicted XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf; Bowen, Souček, Fernandes, Summerville; Pablo; Castellanos
How to Watch Chelsea vs West Ham United?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage is scheduled to start at 17:00 GMT.
