Chelsea aim to extend a strong run under Liam Rosenior when West Ham visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with both clubs entering the London derby from contrasting positions and with West Ham also dealing
with the near-completed departure of Lucas Paqueta to Flamengo.
Rosenior’s side have won five of six matches in all competitions, including back-to-back Premier League victories, and sit one point outside the top four, while West Ham are 18th, five points adrift of safety, despite three straight wins across competitions.
Chelsea hold a dominant recent record against West Ham, winning the last six league meetings by a 15-2 aggregate score, while at Stamford Bridge they have lost just once in the past 19 league home games against the Hammers, winning the most recent five since November 2019.
West Ham’s confidence rose after a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the club’s latest Premier League London derby, though that followed six derby defeats earlier in the season, and the Hammers have not recorded successive league wins over city rivals since the 2021-22 campaign.
Data from OPTA reflects those trends, giving Chelsea a clear edge for this fixture, with the model rating Rosenior’s side as substantial favourites, while still allowing some chance for a draw or a West Ham upset.
Chelsea could also record a notable milestone, as victories over Brentford by 2-0 and Crystal Palace by 3-1 mean another success by at least two goals would secure three consecutive league wins by such a margin for the first time since 2020.
Lucas Paqueta has not featured for West Ham since January 6, yet the team have responded with three consecutive wins in all competitions, and Nuno Espirito Santo now prefers to shift attention fully towards preparing for Chelsea rather than dwelling on the midfielder’s departure.
On Wednesday West Ham confirmed an agreement, reported at around 35.8m, with Flamengo for Paqueta, who joined the London Stadium club in August 2022, and the Brazil international is now completing final steps, including a medical, ahead of a permanent transfer back to Brazil.
West Ham United can confirm that Lucas Paquet has been given permission to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with Brazilian club Flamengo, after a fee was agreed for his permanent transfer.West Ham United (@WestHam) January 28, 2026
Nuno described the outcome as widely understood within the club hierarchy and among the player, stressing that every party recognised the direction of travel once Paqueta’s desire to return home became clear, even if the situation might have been resolved earlier under different circumstances.
"I think we found a solution that everybody was aware of and came to a good conclusion," Nuno said ahead of Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge. "Lucas was clear that he wanted to return home, and we expect the medical and things to become official. "
"For me, Lucas is a special player, a special person. I wisheverything could be different, but the circumstances are what they are. He wanted to go to Brazil, and you keep moving, knowing that he's a special person and special player, and we wish him all the best. It could have been done two years ago, and then everything would have been different. But it is what it is, and we move forward. "
Chelsea vs West Ham player focus: Joao Pedro and Crysencio Summerville
Joao Pedro enters the match in strong form for Chelsea after scoring twice in Wednesday’s 3-2 Champions League victory at Napoli, with both goals created by Cole Palmer, and the forward now has four goals in five games under Rosenior, giving the coach a productive attacking partnership.
Defeating the champions of England, Spain & Italy. pic.twitter.com/Rw1Nm3SjCbChelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 29, 2026
West Ham have added Adama Traore this week, yet Crysencio Summerville is still expected to keep a regular place under Nuno, having scored in each of the last two Premier League appearances, already exceeding the single goal managed across the first 35 league games for the club.
Chelsea vs West Ham mentality and objectives under new managers
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella underlined the squad’s mindset as Rosenior guides the team through four active competitions, stressing both satisfaction with recent results and a belief that the club should compete for trophies and stay involved in major tournaments.
"We are very happy," Cucurella said. "This club always deserves to be in the best competitions. This club means winning trophies, and we are on a good run. I think to continue, we need to improve things as well. But in general, we are very happy. We want to continue improving and on the weekend we have another game. "
For West Ham, the primary short-term aim is survival, with Nuno wanting focus on performance rather than distraction from transfers, and the trip to Stamford Bridge offers a test of recent momentum, as the team seek points against opponents in stronger league form and with superior historical results in this fixture.
