Two winless sides from the opening weekend seek their first three points of the Premier League 2025/26 as Chelsea travel to London Stadium to face West Ham United.
West Ham vs Chelsea Match Details
Date: Friday, 22 August 2025 / Saturday, 23 August
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: London Stadium, London
West Ham vs Chelsea Match Preview
West Ham finished in a disappointing 14th place last season and their first full campaign under Graham Potter got off to a worst start as they were beaten 3-0 by newly promoted Sunderland. Despite holding much of the possession and outshooting the opponents, underlying issues sprang up, which were capitalised on by ‘The Black Cats’ in the final 30 minutes of the match as they returned to the Premier League after almost a decade in style. It seems nothing has changed for the team, even after Potter was given his first pre-season since being assigned to the role back in January 2025, mounting the pressure on the manager, who will be desperate to turn the tide around quickly. It doesn’t look to be an easier job, though, as he faces his former side, Chelsea, this weekend, with Potter’s track record of zero wins against the Blues not helping the cause. Even though it is West Ham’s first home game of the new season, registering just one win in the final eight games at the London Stadium last season does not offer much motivation. Another poor performance in front of home fans, having lost this London derby 3-0 at this venue last year, will increase discontent and make them early favourites for relegation.
The positivity around Chelsea silencing Champions League winners and competition favourites, Paris Saint-Germain, in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final to receive the tag of inaugural world champions faded as they began their 2025-26 Premier League season with a goalless stalemate against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace. It could have gone far worse for the side at Stamford Bridge if Eberechi Eze’s thunderbolt free-kick was not ruled out, debatedly, by VAR. Enzo Maresca’s side did create some open chances to score, but their new arrivals failed miserably in converting them while also not testing opposition keeper Dean Henderson much. The academy product, Josh Acheampong, filling in at centre-back due to injuries, was the only bright spark in their subpar performance. After such a bright summer and winning the Conference League last season, this performance was a step down in the progress the Todd Boehly ownership was finally making, so the former Leicester boss will be under pressure to deliver in their first trip of the season. Chelsea struggled significantly in away games during the Premier League last season, winning only three times in their previous 11 matches at London Stadium. They have not won consecutive games there since 2015.
West Ham vs Chelsea Team News
West Ham is expected to make several key changes after their heavy defeat in the opening weekend. The midfield will be an area of concern with the starting pair, James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez, to be replaced by Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek, a substitute in the last game, to give more solidity. Up front, new signing Callum Wilson might be given his first start for the club after getting his debut in the final 20 minutes against Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Chelsea could also tweak things with Estevao expected to get his full debut in place of James Guitten, who disappointed in his debut for the side. 19-year-old Acheampong should continue at the centre-back role alongside Trevoh Chalobah as Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile remain out with injuries, while Tosin Adarabioyo’s availability is in doubt. Midfielder Romeo Lavia is the other player missing for a month with a strain injury. Nicolas Jackson is back from a three-match suspension he carried from last season, but Joao Pedro will continue to lead the line, with another summer signing, Liam Delap, ahead in the pecking order.
West Ham vs Chelsea Predicted Lineup
West Ham
Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Diouf; Paqueta; Bowen, Wilson
Chelsea
Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
West Ham vs Chelsea Match Prediction
Despite Chelsea’s questionable away form and an underwhelming performance to start their campaign, we feel the Blues will exploit the defensive vulnerabilities of West Ham and secure the first three points. Having also not played a consecutive goalless draw at the start of a season since 1995-96, there are more reasons for Maresca’s side to believe in victory. We predict an edgy 2-1 win for them.
