Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs West Ham

Nizaar Kinsella

Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs West Ham image

Chelsea are facing up to the prospect of Europa League football next season after a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham, who won at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1990, with another London derby to come against West Ham United. 

West Ham are desperately battling for survival under David Moyes and will hope to upset a wounded Chelsea side, after they won 3-0 at home to Southampton last weekend. 

Chelsea need to improve their form ahead of an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, but may be lacking confidence going into another derby encounter. 


Chelsea injuries


Thibaut Courtois is back for Sunday's game after he recovered from a hamstring injury, with Willy Caballero set to return to the bench.  

Antonio Conte confirmed the injuries of Pedro and Davide Zappacosta on Sunday, as they both missed out against Spurs. Pedro has a "physical problem" and Zappacosta was left out to recover from a long standing tendon issue.

David Luiz is out for one or two more weeks with a knee injury, while Ross Barkley is likely to continue with the under-23s, as he aims to return to first team action after a spate of injuries. 

Danny Drinkwater returned to the bench against Tottenham, but Ethan Ampadu is out for the season after fracturing his ankle in the UEFA Youth League victory over Real Madrid. Callum Hudson-Odoi had a slight knock despite coming off the bench against Tottenham, but he is expected to recover. 


Chelsea suspensions


Alvaro Morata has avoided a two-match ban for accruing yellow cards already as he would have needed 10 by the 32nd game for it to apply. Morata is on eight domestic yellow cards which is the highest in the squad. 


Chelsea potential starting line-up


Conte will likely continue using his strongest line-up but the recent defeat might give him some food for thought.

Alvaro Morata has two goals in his last two games and he will likely continue to lead the line. Eden Hazard and Willian seem almost certain to start alongside him. 

Gary Cahill has lost his place in the starting line-up to Antonio Rudiger, as Chelsea have established their 3-4-3 formation.

Caballero has performed well in Courtois's absence but the Belgium number one will likely start, if he is fit again. 

Chelsea team news


West Ham team news


Michail Antonio's hamstring injury was the latest to hit West Ham, who won at the weekend despite their increasing injury crisis. 

Andy Carroll hasn't played since January as he suffers with an ankle problem. Javier Hernandez and Manuel Lanzini are targeting a return from illness and a knee injury respectively to face Chelsea, after being left out at the weekend. 

Winston Reid is also out with a knee injury, while James Collins is doubtful with a hamstring problem. Pedro Obiang could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, taking the club's injury concerns to seven members of their first team squad. 


TV channel & kick-off time


The match takes place at 16:30 GMT on Sunday and it will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports. 


Best Opta match facts


  • Chelsea are unbeaten in 11 home Premier League games against West Ham (W8 D3), since a 2-3 defeat in September 2002.

  • The Hammers have lost all three of their Premier League games played on a Sunday this season, by an aggregate score of 1-8.

  • Chelsea have lost five of their last seven Premier League games (W2). That’s as many as they lost in their entire title winning campaign of 2016-17 under Antonio Conte.

  • The Blues haven’t lost back-to-back home Premier League London derbies since 1999, when they lost 0- 1 against West Ham in the March, before Kanu’s hat-trick saw Arsenal triumph 3-2 in the October.

  • Alvaro Morata has scored in his last two games for Chelsea in all competitions – he’s not yet scored in three in a row for the Blues, last doing so at club level with Real Madrid in April 2017.

Nizaar Kinsella

Nizaar Kinsella Photo

Nizaar Kinsella is a Chelsea correspondent with experience covering international football at the World Cup and European Championships. He is a trusted voice within the Chelsea community, attending almost every game and having spent many years doing so. Coverage on Goal.com has seen him invited onto CNN, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport and BeINSports to comment on the turbulent world of the Stamford Bridge club. He previously worked for the Daily Mirror and BBC Radio Manchester, as well as a period working in the UK charity sector.