West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates as Jadon Sancho makes first start
Enzo Maresca’s side can push into the top four if they defeat the Hammers this afternoon
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West Ham United host Chelsea in Saturday’s early Premier League kick off with the aim of moving up the table after a middling start to the season.
The Hammers’ only win of the campaign came against Crystal Palace back in August and they drew 1-1 with Fulham last time out. Manager Julen Lopetegui is attempting to build a more progressive and attacking side and will have been impressed with their early performances despite results not exactly falling their way.
Today’s opponents are Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Currently eighth in the table, the Blues are running hot and cold with a 6-2 mauling of Wolves followed up by a 2-0 defeat at home to Man City. Three points today will likely take them into the top four but there are questions for Maresca to answer over his best starting line-up with Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson fighting to lead the line.
Follow all the action from the London Stadium with our live blog below:
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
Not far from kick-off in east London, with both sides about to take their place in the tunnel.
Maresca speaks to TNT
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca tells TNT that it “nice to be back” at West Ham, where he “spent almost two years” as assistant manager, “with some good players and good human beings.
“For sure the results are always important. The main thing is to see how the team progress and adapt. I think we’re going in the right direction.”
On Jadon Sancho starting, he says: “It was not simple [choice] because we have more players. But we decided on Jadon and hope it is the right decision.”
Chelsea match facts
Chelsea could win their opening three away games of a Premier League season for the first time since 2017/18.
The Blues’ 1-0 win at Bournemouth last weekend ended a run of 20 consecutive away matches in all competitions without a clean sheet.
In 2024, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have earned more points in the Premier League than Chelsea’s 42.
The Blues have been shown 16 yellow cards this season, more than any other side in the top flight. Eight of those came in their last game against Bournemouth.
Christopher Nkunku has currently scored more goals for Chelsea (6) than he has made starts (5).
Match facts
West Ham could begin a season with three straight home league defeats for the first time if they were to lose today. The Hammers have faced a league-high 73 shots across their opening four matches, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 home league games since a 0-0 draw versus Brighton in January.
Lopetegui’s side have won only two of their 12 Premier League home fixtures in 2024 (D6, L4), beating Brentford 4-2 and Luton 3-1.
The Hammers are the first club to play their opening five matches of a Premier League season in London since Charlton Athletic in 2006-07. Their first league game outside the capital isn’t until early November.
Michail Antonio could become the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements for West Ham today – he currently has 67 goals and 32 assists.
West Ham v Chelsea head-to-head
These two sides have met a total of 122 times, with the first meeting taking place in 1923. Chelsea have won 55 matches, with West Ham winning 44 and 23 ending as draws.
Chelsea have won 30 of the 56 Premier League meetings between the two – they’ve only beaten Tottenham more often in the division (35 times).
The home team won both Premier League matches last season: 3-1 for West Ham at the London Stadium and 5-0 for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea start WSL season and new era with win
Their men are in action this afternoon but Chelsea’s women can kick back and relax having got the job done, just about, at Kingsmeadow last night. Jamie Braidwood was there to watch the start of the Sonia Bompastor era.
Chelsea require an unexpected hero to get Sonia Bompastor era off to winning start
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa: Hannah Hampton made a stunning last-minute save to deny opposite goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo as the champions made a winning start under Bompastor
Enzo Maresca backs players over strike threat
Footballers are playing too many games and not enough is being done to protect them, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.
In the same week that Manchester City’s Rodri suggested fotballers could strike in response to fixture congestion and a lack of consultation from governing bodies, Maresca said that refusing to play “could be an idea” and hinted he believes players would be right to take action against the number of games they are being made to play.
Chelsea and City are due to take part in FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup in the United States next summer, further limiting the amount of downtime players will get in between seasons following Euro 2024 and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Asked whether he felt there were too many games in the current football calendar, Maresca said: “Yes, no doubt.
“In terms of games, it’s too much. I don’t think we protect players. We can say what we think and for me it’s completely wrong the amount of games that we have.
“The only ones that can do something are the players and we can help them. In the last two weeks some of the players have tried to explain what they think. I think it’s a good starting point.
“Some of them have said (they could strike). I think it could be an idea for them.”
Rodri warns players could strike over increase in fixtures: ‘We are close to that’
The new-look Champions League and Club World Cup means Manchester City could play up to 75 matches this season
Julen Lopetegui not pre-occupied by potential Lucas Paqueta betting ban
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has not spoken with Lucas Paqueta about the FA gambling charges and possible suspension hanging over the Brazilian, and admitted he is reluctant to load too much creative responsibility on to the playmaker after a muted beginning to the season.
The 27-year-old is facing a lengthy ban if found guilty of breaching regulations relating to “spot fixing” in four Premier League matches during the 2022/23 season, when it is alleged he deliberately got booked in order to influence the betting market.
The Hammers have made a mixed start to life under Lopetegui with just one win in their first four league fixtures, and are yet to pick up a point at home ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea at the London Stadium.
The limited impact made so far by Paqueta, whose only goal involvement came via a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, has not helped as the former Real Madrid and Spain coach seeks to transform the team’s playing style from the defensive football favoured by predecessor David Moyes into a more expressive brand of play.
The drawn-out nature of the FA’s disciplinary process means the former Lyon winger is likely to be available to play for much of this season, and the manager said he is satisfied with what he has seen so far.
“I’m happy with his behaviour and his commitment,” said Lopetegui. “He’s working very hard, he’s trying to understand what we want. We’re trying to help him to be better and better. He’s an important player.
“I don’t want to put this kind of responsibility on one player. He has to do the best he can about the offensive phase and defensive phase.
“When he is focused on the defensive work he is a much better player and we try to encourage him to always be focused in a defensive way as well as an offensive way.
“He managed (the betting scandal) in a good way. We try to help him, because until now he is one player more.
“But we don’t talk about (the charges). We talk about football, about the next match and about life. But not about this.”
Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection
Ben Chilwell has been handed a Chelsea lifeline after head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed he is under consideration for selection after returning to training with the first team.
The England defender appeared to have no future at Stamford Bridge in August when he was not included in the core group of 22 or 23 players the Italian considered to be his first-team squad, and was told he could leave.
However, he has been named amongst the club’s 25-man squad eligible to play in the Premier League, and ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham Maresca said the situation had changed.
Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection
The England defender appeared to have no future at Stamford Bridge in August.
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