Preview: Chelsea vs West Ham United - prediction, team news, lineups

[(Chelsea F.C.) Strength]:
1. Chelsea F.C. currently sit 5th in the league with 37 points, trailing 4th-placed Manchester United F.C. by just one point. The team are in blistering form, and heading into this home clash against relegation-threatened West Ham United F.C., their objective is to secure a win and break into the top four.
2. After changing their manager, Chelsea F.C. won four and lost one in the last five games across all competitions, showing hot form. The team won two consecutive Premier League matches. In midweek's Champions League fixture, they secured an against-the-odds 3-2 win over Napoli on the road, boosting their morale and confidence.
3. Chelsea F.C. remained unbeaten with 2 wins and 1 draw in the last 3 games, showing an improvement in home performances. They recorded 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in the last 10 home games.
4. Boasting stable attack in the league, Chelsea F.C. scored 17 goals in 11 home games this season and had 6 goals in the last 2 matches against Crystal Palace F.C. and Napoli.
5. Chelsea F.C. boast an overwhelming historical advantage, particularly at home, where they have won five consecutive matches against West Ham United F.C. In their first meeting this season, Chelsea dismantled the Hammers with a 5-1 away victory.

[(Chelsea F.C.) Weakness]:
1. Defenders Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Dario Essugo are confirmed to be absent.
2. Chelsea F.C. conceded an average of 1 goal per home game this season. In the last 6 matches across all competitions, the team conceded 8 goals, averaging over 1 goal per game.
3. Chelsea F.C. lost 4 of the previous 5 home games in AH.

[(West Ham United F.C.) Strength]:
1. West Ham United F.C. are currently 18th with 20 points, mired in the relegation zone and five points adrift of safety. Despite playing away from home, their motivation remains high as they desperately need points to bridge the gap to the safe zone.
2. West Ham United F.C. showcased a rebound in recnet form, beating Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C. in a row.
3. West Ham United F.C. scored 8 goals in the previous 6 league games, averaging over 1 goal per game, which reveals an improvement in offense.

[(West Ham United F.C.) Weakness]:
1. West Ham United F.C.'s playmaker Lucas Paqueta has departed for CR Flamengo (RJ), representing a massive blow to the team's creative playmaking. Veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski remains sidelined.
2. West Ham United F.C. achieved only 2 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses in 11 league games on the road this season, taking 10 points, with a win rate of less than 20%.
3. West Ham United F.C. conceded in 20 consecutive Premier League matches and 10 goals in the previous 6 games, boasting flawed defense.
4. West Ham United F.C. are at a significant disadvantage in H2H record. Their last victory at Stamford Bridge dates back to November 2019. Since then, they have lost all five of their subsequent away trips to the bridge.
5. West Ham United F.C. won only 4 of the previous 10 games and lost 2 of the last 3 away ones in AH.

[Tips]:
Chelsea F.C. have undergone a complete transformation following their managerial change, showing elite quality at both ends of the pitch.

Although West Ham United F.C. managed to stop the bleeding with two consecutive wins recently, their frail away defense and the departure of Lucas Paqueta remain critical vulnerabilities.

Chelsea won five straight home games against West Ham and scored a staggering 15 goals while conceding only twice in their last four league encounters.

Given the 5-1 thrashing earlier this season, the gap in quality remains vast despite West Ham's relegation battle motivation.

With the AH line providing strong support for the Blues, a home win for Chelsea is the expected outcome.

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