West Ham v Chelsea: Predicted Blues line up for London derby

Chelsea will hope to improve their dismal record at The London Stadium when they play West Ham United on Saturday. 

The Blues have won just once in their last seven visits to East London, but Enzo Maresca will be buoyed by his side’s start to the new campaign.

Since losing against champions Manchester City on the opening weekend of the Premier League, Chelsea have since beaten both Wolves and Bournemouth, as well as drawing against Crystal Palace.

Here, we predict the XI that Maresca will select to face the Hammers.

Goalkeeper

Having fallen out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino towards the end of last season, Robert Sanchez has since regained his status as first choice ‘keeper and he is in line to start once again on Saturday. The Spaniard will hope to add to his single clean sheet this season.

Defenders

At the back, captain Reece James remains unavailable due to injury and Malo Gusto is also out. Axel Disasi will therefore likely start at right-back. The Frenchman made his first league appearance of the season against the Cherries.

In the centre, Wesley Fofana is likely to once again be partnered by Levi Colwill. The duo have started all four of the Blues’ Premier League matches so far this season, with the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile seeing their opportunities limited to the Uefa Conference League.

Colwill impressed against Bournemouth last time out

At left-back, the reinvigorated Marc Cucurella is almost certain to start once again. After an underwhelming debut season in London, the Spaniard has shown huge improvement in the early stages of the new campaign.

Midfielders

In midfield, Enzo Fernandez has returned from injury and will likely go straight back into the starting line up after missing the Bournemouth match. The Argentine has endured a mixed spell since joining Chelsea, but one of his standout performances for the Blues came at The London Stadium and he will hope to recreate it on Saturday.

Fernandez will most likely be partnered by Moises Caicedo who, in recent weeks, has demonstrated some of the ability that prompted Chelsea to pay in excess of £100 million to sign him from Brighton and Hove Albion. The Ecuador international has started all four of the Blues’ league games so far this season, and he captained Maresca’s side last time out against the Cherries.

Caicedo has impressed in the early stages of the season

Ahead of the midfield duo, talisman Cole Palmer is likely to start. The Englishman enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough campaign last season, but he has scored just once so far this term. The England international, who scored in the final of the Euros against Spain, provided three assists against Wolves and also registered an assist against Crystal Palace, taking his total goal involvements for the Blues to 45 in just 51 games.

Forwards

Maresca is spoilt for choice all over the pitch but particularly in attack, where several summer additions bolstered his already sizeable squad. On the right, the Italian could opt to deploy Noni Madueke, who scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-2 win over Wolves.

Through the middle, Christopher Nkunku could be given a rare league start after his winning goal against Bournemouth. The French was hampered by injury during his first season in England, but he has already scored three times this term.

Madueke could start against West Ham on Saturday

On the left, Jadon Sancho could make his first start after coming off the bench to make his debut last weekend. The Englishman, on loan from Manchester United, provided the assist for Nkunku’s winner and impressed on the south coast.

The likes of Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Nicolas Jackson may have to settle for places on the bench.

Predicted XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer; Madueke, Jackson, Sancho.