Chelsea predictions vs, West Ham: Another N’Golo Kante goal today?
West Ham have been making it easy for opposing forwards, but so has Chelsea, at times. Our writers predict a goal-laden game that only ends one way.
Frank Lampard faces his first club and his last Premier League manager as West Ham come to Stamford Bridge. Lampard and Manuel Pellegrini are currently two of the longest-serving managers in London after the North London managerial sack-a-thon, and the Chelsea man will finish in a stronger position than his opponent today.
Scott Brant: 2 – 0. Kepa Arrizabalaga has been shaky, at best, the last few games, and I cant see that continuing. So clean sheet it is!
West Ham have really fallen off. They should be higher on the table than they are. Chelsea will have two goals from midfield, and a monster match from the defense, Arrizabalaga included. The match will be boring, and hard to watch at times, but three points is three points.
Vansh Ambashta: 3 – 2. Chelsea is coming off a confusing draw against Valencia. Despite the VAR controversy and the shambolic defending, Chelsea attacked positively and should manage to do the same against the Hammers.
West Ham United is going through a rough phase. With constant rumors questioning their managerial position, they will come into this game with a desperate need to win.
Since Tammy Abraham is on the sidelines, Michy Batshuayi should start the game, which will definitely disturb the balance of the attack. However, Chelsea should manage to win the game despite a good fight from West Ham. The Blues will go 2-0 up at half time through goals from Mason Mount and Willian. West Ham should manage to equalize in the second half but a last-minute winner from N’Golo Kante will win the game.
Barrett Rouen: 2 – 0. The Blues actually have a better performance than most of their recent ones and put in a good, professional but unexciting show. Mason Mount to actually get some time despite his recent peculiar demotion.
Kevin Peacock: 3 – 1. Tambraham won’t be playing and Super Frank Lampard will suffer the recent problem of former Chelsea managers: who to play up top against the happy Hammers.
Olivier Giroud has barely played under Lampard, but the former West Ham man has said Giroud will be needed as the season goes on. This will be the Frenchman’s chance to get some decent game time under his ceinture.
Chelsea are rapidly becoming a neutrals’ favourite footie watch with their gung-ho attitude and there shouldn’t be many Chelsea fans complaining either, but with agendas and influencing to be done there almost always are. Everyone will be happy this afternoon, though, as the Blues run out winners with goals from Giroud, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 3 – 1. Chelsea has been shaky defensively so it’s hard to predict a clean sheet. Kepa Arrizabalaga getting to the ball doesn’t guarantee that he’ll save it, and that’s a concern. West Ham have not been playing well so Chelsea should have more than enough to win, but since theBlues have not been able to see out games, I expect them to finish worse than how they started. Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante to score.
Abhishek Pancholi: 4 – 0. Wham. Tammy Abraham won’t make it and Michy Batshuayi appears to have contracted Lukaku-itis from his international teammate, wherein his first touch sends the ball to a postcode two districts away. Still, Batshuayi is the second in line and he’ll be his usual frustrating self against the Hammers, bundling one over the line to open the scoring, somehow. Christian Pulisic will add two more to his goal tally for the season and Willian will score a screamer to wrap up the three points.
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Nate Hofmann: 3 – 1. Now that Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery have gone, Manuel Pellegrini is leading the London division of the next-manager-fired race. Despite having more than enough talent to challenge for a Europa League spot, West Ham have drifted all the way down to 17th.
Part of their problems stem from the absence of Lukasz Fabianski and the utter disaster that is his replacement, Roberto. They’ve conceded three goals in three straight matches, including against Newcastle and Burnley. There’s only so much players like Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson can do; if your defense is putting you in that deep of a hole every match, wins will be tough to come by.
Chelsea will need to adapt to playing without Tammy Abraham, but there’s every reason to think Michy Batshuayi or Olivier Giroud should be able to fashion a chance or two. If Chelsea can get on the score sheet before halftime, the rest of the match should be smooth sailing.
Next. What you need to know about West Ham ahead of London derby. dark
Varun Dani: 4 – 1. Chelsea might just be the most unpredictable team right now in world football, but Lampard’s boys have consistently shown that they can come on top against mid-table sides. The defence will fail to keep a clean sheet but a Giroud-led attack will tear West Ham apart.