Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Their last encounter ended with a resounding 5:0 victory for Chelsea, but this time such an outcome is unlikely. Chelsea are still inconsistent, while West Ham United are very dangerous at home.
West Ham United
West Ham United played aggressively in attack, taking 11 shots (3 on target) and managed to equalise against Fulham (1:1). Fulham did not just sit back and defend, as they took even more shots (21) against their opponents. There are certainly weaknesses in West Ham's defence (they've conceded in three out of their four Premier League matches), which were clearly pointed out by Erling Haaland from Manchester City. However, they even managed to score against the champions (West Ham have scored in all five official matches of the season).
Chelsea
Chelsea, in the last round, struggled against Bournemouth, but ultimately secured three points (1:0). Christopher Nkunku’s winning goal, assisted by Jadon Sancho, came in the 86th minute. However, before that, Bournemouth should have been ahead, as they hit the woodwork twice and took nearly twice as many shots (19-10). The biggest missed opportunity came from Francisco Evanilson, who failed to convert a penalty. Nonetheless, Robert Sanchez was truly impressive in that match. For this clean sheet victory, Enzo Maresca and the team should thank their goalkeeper and some luck, as the xG suggested a 2:1 score in favour of Bournemouth (1.78-0.78).
West Ham United vs Chelsea Prediction
Taking into account both the Premier League and the English League Cup, both teams have scored in all but one match — Chelsea failing to score against Manchester City, which is a daunting task. Both teams have attacks that outpace their defences, so betting on both teams to score seems like a very intriguing proposition.
