Chelsea
are looking for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this
season when they travel to West Ham.
Jose Mourinho's men lie 12th in the table heading into Saturday's match, but
they returned from the international break in much better form, beating
Aston Villa last Saturday before producing an improved display in the 0-0
draw with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.
The Blues have yet to win two league games in succession this season, and it
will be tough to do so as they travel to one of the division's form teams.
West Ham are unbeaten in their past six Premier League outings, with Slaven
Bilic's men lifting themselves to fourth in the table.
But with a poor record against Chelsea and only one win at home the season,
Mourinho may go into Saturday's clash with renewed confidence.
Team news
West Ham will be without Victor Moses, who is ineligible to face his parent
club, while Winston Reid has not quite shaken off the knock which kept him
out of the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Midfielder Alex Song, meanwhile, is still a couple of weeks away from
returning after a long-term ankle injury.
Mourinho has confirmed that there is no change to the injury situation at
Stamford Bridge, which means Loic Remy and Pedro (both knocks), Branislav
Ivanovic (hamstring) and Thibaut Courtois (knee) remain out.
Opta stats
West Ham have won just one of their past 18 Premier League clashes with
Chelsea (won one, drawn three, lost 14).
Chelsea have not conceded a single goal in any of their past five Premier
League matches against the Hammers, last conceding in a 3-1 defeat in Dec
2012.
West Ham have scored with a league-high 22 per cent of their shots this
season in the Premier League, while only Manchester City (24) have scored
more goals than the Hammers (20).
Dimitri Payet has created more goal-scoring chances than any other Premier
League player so far this season (39).
West Ham have won their two Premier League London derbies so far this season
(against Arsenal and Crystal Palace) - they only won two Premier League
London derbies in the whole of 2014-15.
The Hammers have lost their past three Premier League London derbies at
home, however.
Merson's prediction
If I were Chelsea, I'd be happy this game is at Upton Park, considering West
Ham's recent away form. This is still a hard game for Chelsea, though, and
they're in a position where they must win as many games as possible. Each
week they just have to tick each game off as it comes.
West Ham have been very impressive this season, but if Eden Hazard finally
turns up in a game - he needs to turn up sooner or later - I see Chelsea
winning, although I'm not 100 percent sure.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
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