Chelsea vs West Ham Prediction 31 January 2026
🔊 Will Chelsea's winning streak continue under their new head coach Liam Rosenior? Currently, the Blues are on an impeccable run of four consecutive victories. On Saturday, they will host fellow London club West Ham at Stamford Bridge, a side also riding a three-match winning streak. Who will emerge victorious in this London derby? Let's assess the odds for both teams in our editorial prediction.
Head-to-Head
📊 Chelsea have claimed victory in seven of their last 10 London derbies against West Ham. The Hammers have managed just two wins, with one match ending in a draw. Notably, six of those seven encounters saw the total goals surpass the 2.5 mark.
Head-to-head statistics Chelsea - West Ham
Chelsea Team Overview
It seems Liam Rosenior has found the right approach to Chelsea's young squad. This was particularly evident in the post-match interview with João Pedro, who scored a brace against Napoli. The coach humorously interrupted the interview, drawing a laugh from the Brazilian. In that final group stage match of the Champions League, the Blues defeated the Italian side 3-2 on their home turf. As a result, the Londoners secured 6th place in the standings and advanced to the Round of 16.
In the Premier League, the new head coach remains unbeaten. Since his appointment, Chelsea have won two matches with an aggregate score of 5-1. Their latest victory came against Crystal Palace on their own ground. Despite looking solid against their visitors, Palace squandered numerous chances. The two teams took a combined 23 shots at each other's goals, with a slight edge to the hosts (three more shots). However, the Blues were more clinical with their opportunities (2.31 xG compared to 1.79 xG), leading to a comfortable 3-1 win.
Match Results: Chelsea
West Ham United Team Overview
West Ham appear to be on a promising streak, which kicked off with their FA Cup victory over QPR. Despite the difference in class between the sides, as QPR are a mid-table Championship team, the Hammers' triumph didn’t come easily. They only secured a narrow win in extra time (2-1). This hard-fought success seems to have energized Nuno Espírito Santo's squad, as they picked up six points from their next two Premier League fixtures.
In their latest league outing, West Ham hosted Sunderland, who were then in the top half of the table. The possession was almost evenly split (53% to 43% in favor of the visitors), but the hosts were far superior in attack: 13 shots with 1.51 xG compared to Sunderland's 7 shots with 0.53 xG. This dominance was reflected in the final scoreline, a 3-1 victory for the Londoners. However, the Hammers are still far from the safety zone, trailing the crucial 17th place by five points.
Match Results: West Ham United
Latest news
Chelsea
🎙 Chelsea's head coach shared his thoughts after advancing to the Champions League Round of 16 following their victory over Napoli. “The most gratifying part was the team's collective mindset, which allowed us to positively respond to a challenging first half. Advancing in the tournament is what matters most. I'm extremely proud of the players. In the first half, I asked them to press in a completely different way, something they've never done before and barely trained for. I strive to give my all alongside the team and coaching staff, and I hope we will have many more wonderful nights like this,” said Liam Rosenior.
❌ Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo, and Romeo Lavia remain familiar faces in Chelsea's treatment room. Tosin Adarabioyo joined them three matches ago after sustaining a muscle injury.
West Ham United
🎙 West Ham have confirmed an agreement for Lucas Paquetá's transfer to Flamengo. "Lucas made it clear that due to personal and family reasons, he wants to return home to Brazil and start anew after having the FA regulation violation charges against him dropped in July 2025-a process that took two years and caused significant psychological strain. Despite the club's best efforts to persuade Lucas to stay, he remained steadfast in his desire to leave. Therefore, the head coach and the club have agreed to fulfill his transfer request," reads the club's official statement.
❌ West Ham's medical team are doing an excellent job. The only player currently in the team's injury list is veteran Lukasz Fabianski, who sustained a back injury back in September.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The main referee for the match is Anthony Taylor. Over his last 10 Premier League matches, he averages 4.8 yellow cards. The head-to-head clashes between these teams are typically intense, as expected in a derby. In five of the last seven encounters, there have been at least four yellow cards shown. Both teams are on a good run and will be eager to maintain their winning streaks, so this promises to be a very tense match. Our prediction: total yellow cards over 3.5.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Recent head-to-heads between these teams have been thrilling, with the total goals exceeding 2.5 in six of the last seven meetings. Similarly, West Ham's last six matches have seen the same goal tally surpassed. At Chelsea, the arrival of a new manager has sparked some attacking players into form, notably João Pedro, who has scored in each of the last four games. Given these dynamics, there's a strong likelihood for a bet on total goals over 2.5.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Despite their league position, West Ham sit mid-table in the Premier League for average corners earned (5.22 over 23 matches). While Nuno Espírito Santo's teams are not known for dominant play, they manage to convert limited time in the opposition's final third into a significant number of set-pieces. The odds on West Ham achieving a high number of corners are appealing enough to back them. Our bet: West Ham total corners over 3.5.
Editor's Prediction
Both teams are on a promising run, judging by recent results, but bookmakers have significantly more faith in Chelsea's success (almost four times as much). This isn't surprising, considering the Blues have claimed victory in their last five encounters at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's squad depth should be sufficient to handle even energy-draining midweek fixtures like the Champions League match against Napoli, especially ahead of meetings with teams from the lower end of the Premier League table. Therefore, we're leaning towards a Chelsea win. However, we wouldn't be surprised if the visitors manage to score a goal. Predicted scoreline - 3-1.
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Betting Tips: Chelsea - West Ham United
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