David Moyes looks set to make one West Ham change for the Premier League clash with Chelsea after a major late boost.
West Ham go to Chelsea in the Premier League Sunday afternoon in what really is last chance saloon for the club’s fading hopes of European qualification.
The Hammers must beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge and win against Luton and Man City to stand any chance.
Halfway through the season West Ham were sitting pretty in the top six and just a few points off the top four.
At that time – and even a matter of a month ago – West Ham looked a much better bet for Europe than Chelsea.
One big West Ham change after late boost
A miserable 2024 so far has seen David Moyes’ side record just four wins from their last 22 games.
If that becomes four from 23 at Chelsea, West Ham will not be playing in Europe for the first time since 2020.
Ominously for the Hammers, Chelsea have slowly but surely found improved form under Mauricio Pochettino.
Inspired by Cole Palmer – who came agonisingly close to joining West Ham last summer – they have jumped above the Hammers following an easy win over Spurs on Thursday, just days before they face off at Stamford Bridge.
A win for West Ham would see them go back above Chelsea and potentially two points behind seventh-placed Man United.
Seventh is likely to be rewarded with a Europa Conference League place.
Moyes makes one West Ham change for Chelsea
For all the talk of Europe, there has been more focus on the managerial situations at both clubs ahead of the west vs east London derby.
This is expected to be Moyes’ last London derby as Hammers boss. And incessant speculation over Pochettino’s future persists too.
West Ham will take confidence from their 3-1 win over Chelsea in the reverse fixture at the start of the season.
There can be no excuses about fatigue from West Ham having had a full eight days of rest compared to Chelsea’s 66 hours.
Dinos in for Ogbonna?
Pochettino also has five players worth £285m missing for the game.
There has been good news over one star’s availability for the Hammers ahead of the match.
We predict Moyes makes one West Ham change for Chelsea after the major late boost.
Centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos returned to training this week after a spell out through injury.
Abd he is expected to come back into the starting XI in place of Angelo Ogbonna in West Ham’s only change from the side which drew 2-2 with Liverpool.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge:
Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.