West Ham United vs Chelsea
The big football clashes are coming thick and fast with Premier League: West Ham vs Chelsea next on the agenda; and it promises to be a cracker!
This is another classic match in which both teams are desperate for points. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have gathered some real momentum in their push for Champions League football, while West Ham are in the fight of their lives for Premier League survival.
David Moyes was helicoptered into the London Stadium in December to try to haul the Hammers away from trouble, as he did in a previous stint in 2018, but so far he’s struggled to repeat that success, and time is fast running out.
Talking Points
All smiles at the Bridge
It’s been a great couple of weeks in West London, particularly if you’re a Chelsea fan.
The Blues’ stunning victory over Manchester City handed Liverpool the Premier League title, but from Frank Lampard’s point of view it massively boosted his team’s top-four hopes. Wolves are within two points but have played a game more, and if the Blues win on Wednesday they will move five points clear with six games remaining.
And Lampard’s team is making progress in the FA Cup too. Chelsea faced third-place Leicester City in the quarter-final yesterday and came through with an impressive second-half display as substitute Ross Barkley scored the only goal of the game, converting a cross from the in-form Willian.
Lampard reacted to a lacklustre first-half showing and took off young trio Mason Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour and the changes did the trick as the Blues made the last four of the competition, alongside Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs. US import Christian Pulisic was impressive again and he forced a brilliant save from Kasper Schmeichel. He’s bagged seven goals in his first season in the Premier League and looks to be an excellent buy.
Add to the exciting action on the field the recruitment of striker Timo Werner and you can see why Chelsea fans are smiling.
Blunt Hammers stumbling into trouble
Just as things appear so bright at Chelsea, over in the East End of London it’s all looking rather gloomy. West Ham spent heavily last summer bringing in some expensive recruits like Sebastien Haller and Pablo Fornals, and after a poor first half of the season, they splashed another £25 million to bring winger Jarrod Bowen from Championship club Hull City.
With a squad already containing midfield general Mark Noble, England starlet Declan Rice and Brazilian Felipe Anderson you’d think these additions would find a way towards mid-table… but not so far.
The Hammers shot themselves in the foot in a recent defeat to Spurs, when poor Tomas Soucek scored an own goal and then their defence parted to let Harry Kane inside to finish the job. That was West Ham’s second 2-0 defeat since the return of football, the first coming against Wolves.
Thankfully for David Moyes’ team only Brighton, of the bottom six, have made a positive return, with the remainder all failing to register a win between them. Watford lost to Southampton yesterday and that leaves four teams all within a point with Norwich City seemingly cut adrift. The Hornets are a side with plenty of talent but seem as intent on self-destructing as do the Hammers. Striker Andre Gray, along with Nathanial Chalobah and Domingos Quina were all left out of the Southampton game following an alleged lockdown party!
West Ham are in 17th at the top of three teams on 27 points and outside the drop zone on goal difference alone, two goals better off than Bournemouth in 18th. It couldn’t be tighter. But their destiny is in their own hands with games against Norwich City, Watford and Aston Villa still to come.
History
The Blues have had the upper hand over the Hammers in terms of West Ham vs Chelsea results in the Premier League era, winning 26 to West Ham’s 14, though an Aaron Cresswell goal gave the underdogs an unlikely 0-1 win at Stamford Bridge back in November.
Chelsea’s recent form is much stronger; the Blues have won five out of the last six and are unbeaten in five away from home, while West Ham have lost five out of six.
Betting Tip
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West Ham United vs Chelsea | Chelsea First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.25 |
| July 02, 03:15 (GMT+8) |
The latest SBOBET odds are backing a Chelsea win at 1.61 with the draw at 3.85 and the Hammers out at 5.40.
The Blues are on a hot streak of form and I expect them to come out firing after Lampard gave them a rocket at half time in their FA Cup win.
It’s more misery for West Ham I’m afraid.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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