Chelsea vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League results, final scores and reaction from today’s games
Follow all the latest reaction from Sunday’s three early kick-offs at Stamford Bridge, Turf Moor and the Amex Stadium
It was not pretty and, when Jorginho hopped, skipped and fluffed an 87th-minute penalty, it looked like it would not come at all. But Chelsea were able to squeeze out a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham thanks to Christian Pulisic’s 90th-minute winner in a match that will not last long in the memory.
The goal itself was smartly constructed and taken. On as a second-half substitute, Pulisic timed and adjusted a run into the box to get on the end of Marcos Alonso’s cut-back, after Mason Mount had carried the ball forward in desperation. The American stroked a finish into the far corner from his left foot for his fourth goal of the Premier League campaign. The equalling of last season’s tally that little bit less important than the end of a run two successive home deafest, and a much-needed clean sheet after shipping four goals in both.
Thomas Tuchel was relieved rather than buoyed. This was not a display to hang your hat on, and it is hard to think of a player beyond the usual suspects of Mount and Thiago Silva who emerged with any top-up of credit. But the three points re-establishes distance between them and Arsenal - now five points, with a game in hand. Follow all the team news, build-up and latest scores from all three games below:
Brighton vs Southampton
Then at the Amex Stadium Brighton host Southampton in a game with quite a lot less riding on it.
Still, Brighton will be hoping they can move back into the top 10. But Saints will leapfrog above the Seagulls with a victory on the south coast.
Brighton XI: Sanchez, Cucurella, Webster, Dunk, Maupay, Mac Allister, Trossard, Mwepy, Welbeck, Caicedo, Veltman.
Southampton XI: Forster, Walker-Peters, Romeu, Long, Ward-Prowse, Adams, Redmond, Livramento, Salisu, Tella, Bednarek.
Burnley vs Wolves
Meanwhile, Burnley have a huge game in the battle for Premier League safety today. They can move out of the drop zone if they avoid defeat at home to Wolves.
Relegation rivals Everton then travel to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at 4.30pm.
Burnley XI: Pope, Taylor, Cork, Tarkowski, Brownhill, Weghorst, McNeil, Roberts, Rodriguez, Collins, Vydra.
Wolves XI: Sá, Jiménez, Boly, Coady, Silva, Jonny, Semedo, Hwang, Saïss, Moutinho, Dendoncker.
Chelsea vs West Ham
So, David Moyes clearly has more than one eye on their Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Understandably so.
No Michail Antonio, no Jarrod Bowen, no Declan Rice in the startling line-up.
Team news
And here is the West Ham team!
West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Cresswell, Johnson, Masuaku; Noble, Soucek; Fornals, Benrahma, Yarmolenko.
Subs: Areola, Fredericks, Alese, Rice, Kral, Lanzini, Vlasic, Bowen, Antonio.
Team news
Here is your Chelsea team for this afternoon’s clash against West Ham.
Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Christensen, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Mount, Havertz, Werner.
Subs: Kepa, Chalobah, Kenedy, Sarr, Barkley, Saul, Pulisic, Ziyech, Lukaku.
Chelsea vs West Ham
West Ham can move above Manchester United into sixth place with a victory at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
However, the Hammers have only won once away at Chelsea over the past 20 years. History is not with David Moyes’ men.
Chelsea vs West Ham
Chelsea have suffered three home defeats in a row against Brentford, Real Madrid and Arsenal.
Thomas Tuchel partially blamed the pitch for the loss to Mikel Arteta’s men in midweek, but that didn’t wash for a lot of Blues fans.
A defeat here today could really sour the mood in west London as the season approaches its conclusion.
Chelsea vs West Ham
Welcome to The Independent’s live updates of today’s Premier League clash between Chelsea and West Ham.
We will also be keeping a keen eye on Burnley vs Wolves and Brighton vs Southampton so you don’t have to go anywhere.
It promises to be another thrilling day of top flight action in England.
Team news to come from Stamford Bridge.
Is Chelsea vs West Ham on TV today? Kick-off time, channel and more
West Ham fans would have bitten your hand off before the season started if you’d told them they would be in the Europa League semi-finals and in with an outside chance of finishing in the top four.
David Moyes’ men now appear to be third or fourth favourites to clinch a Champions League qualification place through their Premier League position... but it is still up for grabs with five games remaining.
Meanwhile, Chelsea look a safe bet to secure third place but will be keen to quash any Tottenham or Arsenal hopes of catching them before the end of the campaign.
This could be a major scalp for West Ham if they can win at Stamford Bridge - a result which would condemn the European champions to a fourth straight home defeat.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of today’s match.
Antonio Rudiger turned down Chelsea record wage offer as Real Madrid circle
Antonio Rudiger rejected the chance to become the highest-paid defender in Chelsea FC’s history, the PA news agency understands.
The Germany defender is understood to have turned down a major contract offer from Chelsea, that the Blues had tabled before falling under Government restrictions.
Chelsea have continued to hold out hope that the Stamford Bridge club’s sale could turn the tide in their bid to retain Rudiger’s services.
But the continued strong interest from Real Madrid could now see the 29-year-old leave the west London club when his contract expires this summer.
Rudiger had for some time vowed to leave the decision on his future until the end of the campaign, but interest from other clubs has remained consistent.
He has been understood to want to continue working with Thomas Tuchel, having hit new heights under the Blues’ German boss.
But Madrid could now hold the edge in the race to land one of Europe’s top defenders.
Chelsea’s recruitment and retention has been halted by the strict operating terms after Roman Abramovich’s UK Government sanctions.
The sale of the Stamford Bridge club should be complete in May though, which will allow the west Londoners to return to standard transfer business.
More details here:
Antonio Rudiger turned down Chelsea record wage offer as Real Madrid circle
Continued strong interest from Real Madrid could now see the 29-year-old leave the west London club when his contract expires this summer
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