Game Week 24 Predictions: Chelsea to win

El’plasta preview: Chelsea vs West Ham at Stamford Bridge – Rosenior's Blues chase top-4, Hammers fight relegation, Paqueta; verdict Chelsea to win

Can Chelsea heap goals on West Ham the same way they did in the reverse fixture at the London Stadium? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Chelsea vs West Ham

Stamford Bridge Stadium

6:30pm

Chelsea has won each of their last four games, including two in the Champions League, which has helped them to secure automatic qualification into the round of 16.

Since Liam Rosenior’s arrival, the Blues have only lost once, and that was the home game against Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup. They will have a huge opportunity to right the wrongs when they travel to Arsenal in midweek for the second leg.

West Ham has just one job, which is to earn points here and there to stay in the league. Their recent resurgence will face a huge test when they walk to Stamford Bridge for this game; it’s probably a free hit on paper, but Nuno Espirito Santo will know it’s a game that could change everything for the Hammers.

There are only five points between West Ham and safety; lots of pundits have pencilled the Hammers to go down, but with Crystal Palace struggling and Forest wobbling, West Ham can fight for their rights to stay in the league, but they must pick up points at tough places.

Chelsea seems to have made the right appointment in Rosenior. The former Hull City man has his way with the young lads, but you reckon he needs experience in his ranks. Chelsea won’t buy players above the age of 25, and that won’t help the manager; he has to train what he has into experience.

This game means so much to the two clubs. The visitors want to swim out of the red zone, while a win for Chelsea pushes them into the top four ahead of Manchester United before the Red Devils play on Sunday. The Blues can’t miss this chance.

It’s understandable that despite being handed a long-term contract, Rosenior must achieve Champions League qualification to stay on the job. This game is one in which he can lay claim to three points; he cannot afford to pass on it.

There’s a matter of a League Cup game in midweek against the Gunners; he will have his sights on that, as that offers him an opportunity to win the hearts of the fans with a trophy. He must first win against the Hammers so the midweek game doesn’t become a win-or-bust game.

Lucas Paqueta has left West Ham to join Flamengo. It’s so strange how that one ended, but for the Blues, Rosenior has confirmed that Cole Palmer will start this one. It was a 5-1 drubbing in the first leg; Chelsea might inflict the same margin on the Hammers if they don’t come correct.

Verdict: Chelsea to win.