Little by little the start of the season is going into oblivion and with it, the teams are beginning to get into the rhythm to begin to face a calendar that will not stop in excitement until next year, therefore, it is of vital importance that Chelsea or West Ham get the three points in this start of day 5 in England, since on the one hand the “blues” would get closer to the first places in the general classification and on the other side of the coin, the West Ham would be leaving the lower part of the table.
How do both teams arrive?
It’s only been a month since the ball started rolling in England and despite all the controversy over the excess of players, Chelsea have left a good impression in the first 360 minutes of the season, as with two wins, one draw and one defeat, the blue team is positioned in eighth place, with a good chance of moving up to fifth place. Likewise, the team has managed to recover from the debacle of the first matchday, leaving it as a bad taste in the mouth in the past, but as a learning experience to strengthen itself and already adding three victories without knowing defeat, with the last game being a narrow victory against Bournemouth.
Robert Sanchez saves a ball on the way to goal | Photo: Chelsea FC
It has been a difficult start for the Hammers so far, with one win in four games to start the campaign, but the good news is that they will only have to concentrate on local competitions this year (Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup), as they failed to qualify for international competitions. After drawing 1-1 against Fulham, the outlook has put the West Ham in fourteenth position, with the obligation to add points in this match, and begin to climb positions.
Our skipper’s passion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ex6vX9WznG
— West Ham United (@West Ham) September 14, 2024
Record
As regards the Premier League, Both teams have faced each other on a total of 106 occasions, with 39 victories for the West Ham, Chelsea have drawn 22 games and won 45 games. The Blues have scored 173 goals, while the Hammers have scored 155 times.
Looking at the last five most recent clashes, it is possible to realize that the team Stamford Bridge has managed to make his institution weigh on the court, as they have won three of the last matches. However, when it comes to playing at the Olympic Stadium in London, West Ham has imposed the conditions of his home since he has not suffered any defeats against the “blues” since matchday 33 in the 2020/2021 campaign.
Players to watch
Edson Álvarez – The “machín” has played three games so far in the Premier League, remaining as one of the important elements for the defensive zone of the West Ham. Considering that his main job is to act as a recovery midfielder, he may become the unstoppable wall for this match. His statistics say that Edson attempts an average of 71 passes per game, completing 85% of them successfully. He also has an average per game of 3.9 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 2.1 blocks and 2.3 clearances, which is one of the highest in the league.
Edson Alvarez arriving at Craven Cottage
Christopher Nkunku – The Frenchman is proving this season that the millions invested in him are paying off, and not only was he the hero of last matchday to add three more points on the road, but the Frenchman’s personal statistics highlight him as a latent danger every time he touches the ball. Nkunku averages a total of 3.9 shots on goal per game and 0.49 expected goals per game, meaning he will have at least two chances on goal to open the scoring.
Nkunku celebrating a goal against Bournemouth | Photo: Chelsea
