Chelsea FC won’t likely forever be blowing bubbles as they head to the London Stadium to take on their crosstown rivals West Ham United, but they have to be feeling pretty good right now. They have won all five of their Premier League games so far, and picked up a road win in Europa League on Thursday night. Now they’ll try to best the Hammers in a match where they are heavy favorites, and move to 7 for 7 in 2018-19.
The Blues will be without a couple of key players though. Pedro is a major doubt for the clash against Manuel Pellegrini’s side after the Spaniard picked up a shoulder injury in the UEL win over PAOK. Mateo Kovacic missed out on that match with a minor injury and could be absent again.
The rested pair of Eden Hazard and David Luiz will likely come back into the first team for this one.
Switching over to the Hammers, Pellegrini could be without the services of Javier Hernandez, due to the flu. Meanwhile long time Arsenal man Jack Wilshere is sidelined after ankle surgery. Then you also have the long term absentees Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Winston Reid.
In other words, the West Ham injury/fitness issues list is rather substantial so it’s imperative that Marko Arnautovic be fit for this one. Arnautovic was subbed off in the second half last weekend due to a knee issue.
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kick-off: 130 pm (BST), Sunday 23 Sept
Odds via William Hill : Chelsea FC 52/100, Draw 10/3, West Ham 24/5
Prediction: Chelsea FC 3, West Ham 0
Feel free to post your own Chelsea and/or Hammers starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match everybody!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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