Match Overview and Preview

The second matchday of the Premier League season features an intriguing London derby as West Ham United prepare to host Chelsea at the London Stadium on August 22. This comprehensive preview offers a detailed prediction, delves into crucial statistics, and examines the latest odds for the West Ham vs. Chelsea encounter.

West Ham United: Early Season Struggles

Under the guidance of manager Graham Potter, West Ham’s 2025/26 Premier League campaign commenced on a remarkably disappointing note. Their opening fixture saw them suffer an unexpected and substantial 0-3 defeat against newly-promoted Sunderland on the road. This result extends the Hammers’ streak of failing to secure a win in their season opener to four consecutive years, comprising one draw and three losses in the first round of fixtures. Furthermore, a broader look at their league performance reveals a troubling trend: West Ham has managed just two wins in their previous twelve Premier League encounters, alongside four draws and six defeats.

Key West Ham Statistics

• Exactly 2 or 3 goals were scored in 6 of the Londoners’ last 8 Premier League matches.
• Both teams found the net in 7 of West Ham’s previous 9 league games.
• The club’s winless streak at home in the Premier League now stands at 5 matches (3 draws and 2 defeats).

West Ham Probable Lineup (5-3-2)*

Mads Hermansen – Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, El-Hadji Malik Diouf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nayef Aguerd – James Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Paqueta – Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Füllkrug.

West Ham Team News

Forward Crysencio Summerville is expected to miss the match due to injury.

Chelsea FC: Striving for Consistency

Chelsea’s season also began with a frustrating outcome, as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Crystal Palace. Despite dominating their London counterparts across most statistical categories, the Blues ultimately failed to convert their superiority into goals. Nevertheless, this result extends Chelsea’s unbeaten run to three successive matches, encompassing two victories and one draw. Notably, Enzo Maresca’s squad has maintained an impressive defensive record during this period, keeping clean sheets in all three fixtures.

Key Chelsea Statistics

• In their last 10 Premier League fixtures, the club has suffered only 1 defeat (6 wins and 3 draws).
• At least one team failed to score in 10 of Chelsea’s previous 13 Premier League matches.
• The Londoners have scored no more than 1 goal in 10 of their last 11 away league games.

Chelsea Probable Lineup (4-3-3)*

Robert Sanchez – Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Joshua Achiampong, Marc Cucurella – Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer – Pedro Neto, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Joao Pedro Jesus.

Chelsea Team News

Forward Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable due to suspension. Defenders Benoît Badiashile and Levi Colwill, along with midfielder Romeo Lavia, will miss the game due to injuries.

Referee Analysis

Michael Oliver (England)

Matches officiated (EPL, 2024/25–2025/26) – 27; Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 116; Average yellow cards per match – 4.3; Red cards shown – 5; Average fouls per match – 23; Penalties awarded – 11%.

Match Prediction: West Ham vs. Chelsea

Graham Potter’s West Ham side has undeniably endured a challenging start to the new Premier League campaign. Last season, significant defeats for the Hammers were primarily against top-five contenders. However, this season’s opening saw them comprehensively beaten by Sunderland, a team that had been absent from the Premier League for eight years and scored only 58 goals in 46 Championship matches. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the London club may be regretting their lack of significant transfer market activity once more.

Chelsea also dropped points in their opener and failed to score. However, their opponent was Crystal Palace, a team currently in formidable form. I anticipate that Enzo Maresca’s squad will not stumble for a second consecutive match and will secure a victory in this upcoming London derby. In their three most recent head-to-head encounters, Chelsea emerged victorious, boasting a commanding aggregate goal difference of 10:1.

My prediction is a “Chelsea Win” with odds of 1.66

Disclaimer

* For each team, the starting lineup from their previous match in this tournament is indicated.