Chelsea
will assess the fitness of Ruben-Loftus Cheek ahead of their all-London
clash with West Ham, live on Monday Night Football.
Loftus-Cheek has a long-standing back problem and could miss out, despite
Blues manager Maurizio Sarri praising the tactical development of the
England midfielder, who scored in the 3-0 home victory over Brighton in
midweek.
Sarri said: "Now he is tactically a very good midfielder. At the beginning
of the season he was a very offensive midfielder. Now he is complete, I
think."
Elsewhere for Chelsea, Marcos Alonso must prove his fitness after a
hamstring issue and Ethan Ampadu has a back complaint, but Pedro is expected
to shake off a knock.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini has revealed Felipe Anderson, Samir Nasri and
Ryan Federicks are "okay" and have been training with the squad ahead of the
game.
Andy Carroll, Carlos Sanchez, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jack Wilshere and Winston
Reid all remain sidelined.
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 12 home league meetings with West Ham (W8
D4) since a 2-3 loss in September 2002.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games against
Chelsea (W1 D2), last having a longer unbeaten run against the Blues between
March 1998 and March 2000 (5 games).
Chelsea have lost three home Premier League London derbies over the past
four seasons (W9 D4 L3) - as many as they had in the previous 11 campaigns
in the competition (W34 D13 L3).
After a run of eight London derby matches without a win (D5 L3), West Ham
have won four of their last five in the Premier League (D1).
Chelsea haven't lost a home Premier League game on a Monday since December
1994 (2-3 vs Man Utd), winning 11 and drawing three since.
No side has conceded fewer home goals than Chelsea in the Premier League
this season (10). Only Arsenal and Manchester United (2) have scored more
than once as a visiting side at Stamford Bridge this season.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League games in which they've
scored this season (W12 D5) since a 1-3 loss at Arsenal in August. It's the
longest current such run in the division.
West Ham striker Javier Hernandez has scored in each of his last four
Premier League away games against Chelsea. Only four players have scored in
five consecutive away Premier League games against an opponent - Dion Dublin
vs Tottenham, Alan Shearer vs Leeds, Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Newcastle and
Robert Pires vs Tottenham.
Merson's prediction
Nothing but a Chelsea win here.
West Ham are on the beach a bit as they are safe and going nowhere. They
were very fortunate against Huddersfield when they won 4-3, that papered
over the cracks, and then they got found out against Everton and if it
wasn't for Fabianski it could have been any score.
I thought Chelsea were very good against Brighton, it's probably the best I
have seen them play in a long time.
I expect Chelsea to win comfortably, but how many will be thinking about
their Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday? Especially the
manager as he hasn't won anything. Coming fourth in the league won't make a
difference to him but winning the Europa is massive, so it will be
interesting to see how he sets up.
He has an excuse with his team selection because he could turn around and
say he is looking at Thursday. If you were him that's what you would be
looking at. I think they might play their strongest team on Thursday.
MERSE PREDICTS: 3-0
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