Premier League Predictions: Chelsea to share spoils with Westham

Chelsea must bounce back from their midweek loss to Southampton to avoid falling farther behind in the title race. (Photo credit: Football London)

Chelsea vs Westham

Stamford Bridge Stadium

3:00pm

It’s not looking good for Chelsea at the moment and the businesses they conducted in the transfer window on deadline day suggest they’re aware and trying to fix it. Chelsea must now respond from the defeat at St. Mary’s Stadium with a positive result on Saturday against Westham.

The Blues signed Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria from Barcelona and Juventus respectively and while the former Arsenal man will wait a bit to feature, they can call on the Swiss straight up if paper works are in on time.

Westham had a horrible start to life in the new season but now sit just three points off Chelsea after picking four points from a possible six in their last two games. It was hard to swallow that they played three times earlier in the season and lost all without scoring a goal.

David Moyes welcomed Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta to the fold and he can help the team with one or two ideas in a London derby against Chelsea on Saturday; the Hammers are beginning to get into their groove and you won’t put a positive result past them.

Chelsea can take solace in the fact that it’s a marathon and not a sprint but falling off the pace so badly this early has its demerits. The Blues lost to Southampton without real fights and must make amends against the Hammers.

Westham will have to see if Gianluca Scamacca is able to feature, leaving Michail Antonio as the certain starter; the defense is a bit stable now with Emerson coming in to help Aaron Cresswell on the left. The middle depends on the set up Moyes prefers but Declan Rice and Thomas Soucek will feature.

Chelsea can call on Reece James but he should play as wingback with Wesley Fofana now in town; the arrival of Zakaria should ease the midfield pressure and with Conor Gallagher unavailable due to suspension, Mason Mount will have to be the creator-in-chief on Saturday.

Derbies are different ball games any day, form and history play little parts but the Hammers beat Chelsea with a strange Author Masuaku goal last season, will they do it again?

Verdict: Both teams to score