West Ham 3-2 Chelsea FC LIVE! Masuaku wins it - Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

West Ham vs Chelsea - LIVE!

West Ham United stunned Premier League leaders Chelsea with a 3-2 victory after coming from behind twice before substitute Arthur Masuaku won it late on.

Chelsea had seemed to be in control of the game after 28 minutes when Thiago Silva scored with a header from a Mason Mount corner.

But the European champions allowed the hosts back into the game in the 40th minute when Jorginho put his goalkeeper Edouard Mendy under pressure with a poor back pass and Mendy brought down Jarrod Bowen for a penalty that was converted by Lanzini.

It took Chelsea only four minutes to get back in front when Mount connected with a floated pass from Hakim Ziyech for a perfect volley that caught out Fabianski at his near post.

But West Ham drew level again in the 56th minute when Bowen fired in hard and low from the edge of the box.

Masuaku turned the game West Ham’s way in the 87th minute when he caught out Mendy with what looked like a cross, but the ball flew into the top corner at the near post.

The win ensures the Hammers will remain in the top four whatever happens elsewhere in the Premier League this weekend.

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West Ham vs Chelsea latest news

• GOAL! Masuaku cross goes in late on

• GOAL! Bowen with a lovely finish

• GOAL! Mount with a stunning volley

• GOAL! Lanzini levels it up from the spot

• GOAL! Thiago Silva puts Chelsea in front

West Ham United FC 3 - 2 Chelsea FC

What next...

15:42 , Matt Verri

West Ham are back in action in the Europa League on Thursday night, at home to Dinamo Zagreb. They’ve already secured top spot though, so expect plenty of changes.

Chelsea make the trip to face Zenit on Wednesday, in the final match of the group stage. They’re still battling with Juventus to win the group.

Better afternoon for the Hammers...

15:26 , Matt Verri

West Ham ratings vs Chelsea: Masuaku and Bowen steal the show in thriller

How James Robson rated the Chelsea team..

15:19 , Matt Verri

Chelsea player ratings: Mendy unusually shaky in costly West Ham loss

What it means...

15:13 , Matt Verri

West Ham’s win ensures they will finish the weekend in fourth place, regardless of what happens elsewhere in the Premier League over the next couple of days.

It’s less good news for Chelsea. Their grip on top spot is now a weak one, with both Liverpool and Man City having the chance to overtake them.

Not impressed...

15:04 , Matt Verri

Moyes on injury problems

15:00 , Matt Verri

Johnson and Zouma were both forced off for the Hammers this afternoon, and Moyes is worried about the strain being put on players.

“We played Brighton here midweek, and they had three players who went off with injuries,” Moyes said.

“We’ve had the same today. I know that we’re mad for football and everybody is, but there also has to be a care for the players as well in how we do it.

“At the moment it’s tough, but that’s the league we’re in.”

Moyes on Masuaku’s winning goal

14:55 , Matt Verri

“I just said to him I thought it was a great cross!

“We lost a goal in the last couple of minutes the other night, and we get a goal pretty late on today. It was very fortunate the goal, let’s not kid ourselves on.

“In football, you need a bit of fortune sometimes. The last few games we’ve just lost it a little bit, but today we got it back.”

Hard man to please...

14:53 , Matt Verri

West Ham have got the result this afternoon, but that doesn’t mean their manager was entirely happy...

“Truthfully, I didn’t think we played that well today,” Moyes said.

“But we got the goals, and in our other games I wouldn’t say we’ve played worse or better, but we haven’t been getting the goals. Today we got the goals to go with it.

“Overall, I want the team to play much better. I think we can. The good thing is we can beat Chelsea and say we’re not playing well enough, so hopefully that helps us.”

More from Tuchel

14:50 , Matt Verri

“When Thiago cleared the ball off our line, it’s right after our goal and we have a horrible pass back into the feet of the opponent.

“You cannot do this at this level. This is a top-four Premier League level. Way too many mistakes, it’s impossible to make so many mistakes and expect a result.

“Every loss is a bump in the road. We need to play more accurately, play more stable, and we need to reduce the big mistakes”

Thomas Tuchel on penalty

14:45 , Matt Verri

“Everybody is involved. The pass is not the best decision, the orientation is not the best.

“And then we can save it, but decision making is also not the best from Edu [Mendy] in this moment.”

More from Bowen

14:40 , Matt Verri

“That’s what we are all about as a team - the character, the belief. We hung in when it’s difficult, and we never know when we’re beaten.

“We went behind twice, but showed that reaction and we got the three points.”

Jarrod Bowen’s reaction

14:38 , Matt Verri

“I’ve been a bit disappointed with myself that I’ve had chances I didn’t score. Today to get back on the scoresheet [was important].

“I had one with Michail too, a few minutes later when I stretched as much as I could, but I still got the goal and I was buzzing.”

That crazy winner

14:31 , Matt Verri

FULL TIME

14:26 , Matt Verri

West Ham 3-2 Chelsea

The Hammers have done it! They’ve given Chelsea their second league defeat of the season.

Masuaku’s late cross flew into the top corner to cap off a terrible afternoon for Mendy, and secure all three points for the hosts.

14:24 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Christensen clips Antonio as he runs down the wing, and that could be that. 60 seconds left, and the Hammers are in no rush to take this one.

14:22 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: That doesn’t help Chelsea’s cause. Soucek smacks the ball out of play, but James brings him down as he does so and the free-kick is given. James shown the yellow card too.

14:21 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Four minutes added on at the London Stadium.

14:20 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Bowen shoots from a tight angle, and he’s not far away from bending it into the top corner. No real response to the goal from Chelsea yet, and they have not got long to try and earn something from this match.

GOAL! West Ham 3-2 Chelsea | Arthur Masuaku 87'

14:18 , Matt Verri

WEST HAM HAVE SURELY WON IT!

It’s a bizarre goal, but the hosts won’t care. Antonio makes a run, and that gets Masuaku a bit of space on the left wing.

He fires a cross into the box, but it’s somehow beaten Mendy at the near post and flown into the top corner!

14:17 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Benrahma brings on a note which he passes on to Rice. Takes the midfielder a few attempts to understand what the message is.

Fornals swings a ball towards Antonio, and Christensen has to be alert to clear that out for a throw-in.

14:15 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Coufal has space on the right wing as West Ham go on the attack for the first time in a while. Hudson-Odoi gets in to block the cross.

Lanzini off for the Hammers, Benrahma coming on for the final few minutes.

James Robson at the London Stadium

14:13 , Matt Verri

Lukaku has been on for 35 minutes and barely seen the ball. That is not his fault, rather Chelsea’s failure to get the service to him.

Too often his runs are not seen and he cuts a frustrated figure as he has to work his way back onside.

14:11 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Chelsea really pushing now. Mount turns Dawson really well as he lets the ball run, but Coufal gets back and gets his body in the way.

Rudiger swings a ball into the box, and Lukaku loops a header over the bar.

14:08 , Matt Verri

77 mins: Chelsea probing just outside the box. Hudson-Odoi then drives inside, lays it off to Jorginho on the edge of the box and he tries to pass it into the net. Deflected behind.

West Ham defend it well, they’ve been better at clearly set pieces in the second-half. Coufal down, and play will be stopped.

14:05 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Pulisic is on for Chelsea, replacing Alonso. Hudson-Odoi drops in to play wing-back.

West Ham enjoying some decent possession... AND THEY NEARLY SCORE! Brilliant move.

Fornals slides it to Antonio, and he’s really strong. Plays it across the six-yard box, Bowen is completely free, but as he slides in he can’t quite reach it, and it’s just wide. Inches away from having a tap in.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

14:02 , Matt Verri

That is the last thing West Ham need. Zouma has been impressive at the back so far and, with Angelo Ogbonna already out for the season, West Ham are now relying on their third and fourth choice central defenders to see them through the last 20 minutes against the European champions.

14:01 , Matt Verri

70 mins: West Ham playing with ten men for now, as Zouma went down off the pitch. Fornals comes on to replace him, change in system for the hosts.

Corner Chelsea, and West Ham deal with it well. They’ll be a man lighter at the back now though.

13:58 , Matt Verri

68 mins: Rudiger fires one into Lukaku, but he can’t control it and it runs through to the West Ham goalkeeper. Zouma has pulled up as he tracked Lukaku.... looks like he might have pulled something.

13:57 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Hudson-Odoi involved straight away. Brings it forward on the left wing, and then lifts it inside to Mount in the box. He has room to set himself, but he doesn’t catch it very well and it’s straight at Fabianski.

13:54 , Matt Verri

64 mins: Ziyech off, Hudson-Odoi on for the Blues. They haven’t looked at all as dangerous in the second half as they did in much of the first period. Still plenty of time though...

13:53 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Antonio bundles into Loftus-Cheek, and Chelsea have a free-kick in a decent position.

James takes... over everyone and out for a goal-kick. A waste, to say the least.

13:52 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Corner for Chelsea, after Zouma gets in front of Lukaku to clear a dangerous low cross.

Rice heads it away, and Bowen presses right up the pitch to force it back to Mendy. Crowd getting on the goalkeeper’s back whenever he has the ball.

James Robson at the London Stadium

13:50 , Matt Verri

How costly will Rudiger’s mis-hit pass to Ziyech prove to be. If Chelsea had been more clinical in that moment they might have extended their lead. Instead West Ham go down the other end and equalise.

Alonso did not cover himself in glory in the build up to Bowen’s goal.

13:49 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Mount gets in behind and plays it across the face of goal. Puts it just out of reach of Alonso and Ziyech, and it rolls away.

Both sides look dangerous when they attack, so there could well be more goals to come yet.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

13:47 , Matt Verri

That is a superb finish from Bowen. He’s usually so frustrating in front of goal given the positions he gets himself in but the winger needed no time to think there, fantastic first time strike.

GOAL! West Ham 2-2 Chelsea | Jarrod Bowen 56'

13:47 , Matt Verri

IT’S LEVEL AGAIN!

Antonio makes a nuisance of himself, and it falls to Coufal. He pokes it inside to Bowen, and he curls a wonderful effort first time past Mendy and into the far corner. Great finish.

13:46 , Matt Verri

55 mins: Rudiger absolutely haring forward with the ball after winning it back. He drives all the way into the box, but his ball outside to Ziyech is a poor one and on the stretch he sends it well over the bar.

Mount was on the right completely open, but Rudiger very much had his head down as he charged up the pitch.

13:44 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Loftus-Cheek with a good touch to open up the space. He has Mount making a run to the byline, but opts to cut it back himself... straight to Rice.

13:42 , Matt Verri

51 mins: James was desperate for that corner to drop to him at the back post so he could fire at goal, but Lanzini flicks it away.

West Ham break with Antonio and Bowen. The striker delays the pass and when he eventually does slide it through, Bowen is offside. Promising counter though from the hosts.

13:40 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Low-key start to the second period. Alonso then brings it up the pitch, with Rudiger charging forward to offer an option.

Gets played through to Ziyech, and he wins a corner.

13:37 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Antonio flicks it through to Soucek, but the flag goes up for offside. James shrugs him off the ball just to make sure anyway.

Back underway

13:35 , Matt Verri

West Ham get us off and running for the second-half!

Lukaku coming on

13:35 , Matt Verri

Chelsea do indeed make the change at the break, after Havertz picked up that knock right at the end of the half.

Lukaku is coming on for the Blues. West Ham’s defence will not be delighted to see that.

First-half stats

13:33 , Matt Verri

Entertaining first 45 minutes at the London Stadium.

Chelsea had 68% of possession, with 12 shots and six of those on target. West Ham still looked dangerous when they had the ball though, with seven shots and three on target.

They will still feel they are right in this one.

Havertz to be replaced?

13:29 , Matt Verri

How Chelsea took the lead...

13:27 , Matt Verri

13:23 , Matt Verri

Zouma slid in to stop Havertz right at the end of the half, as the German drove into the box.

Both needed treatment, but it looked like Havertz was still in a fair bit of pain as the half-time whistle went. 15 minutes for him to get patched up.

James Robson at the London Stadium

13:22 , Matt Verri

Looking at the replay of that goal, it was a really well-taken strike. Mount watches the ball all the way and then disguises his shot with a side-footed volley into the bottom corner.

HALF-TIME

13:20 , Matt Verri

West Ham 1-2 Chelsea

Brilliant opening 45 minutes at the London Stadium, plenty of attacking threat from both sides.

Silva gave the Blues the lead with a header, before Lanzini equalised from the spot after Mendy brought him down.

But a wonderful strike from Mason Mount gives Chelsea the lead at the break.

Here’s that Mount volley...

13:19 , Matt Verri

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

13:18 , Matt Verri

That’s the difference in quality between these two sides. West Ham have had a few opportunities like that off the back of Chelsea mistakes but not been able to make the most of them, whereas Chelsea get one and punish the Hammers.

Poor from Rice to play that ball after such a good spell of possession for West Ham.

13:17 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Two minutes added on.

Antonio goes for goal from the kick-off, trying to catch Mendy off his line. Drifts wide. Full marks for the plan.

Johnson off for the Hammers with an injury, Masuaku on.

GOAL! West Ham 1-2 Chelsea | Mason Mount 44'

13:15 , Matt Verri

WHAT. A. GOAL.

Soucek gets caught on the ball, and Chelsea can break. It comes to Ziyech on the left, and he then switches it over to Mason Mount.

As it drops into the box, Mount cushions it with the inside of his foot on the volley, and he beats Fabianski at the near post. Wonderful technique.

13:12 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Something between James and Lanzini after that penalty... assume the Chelsea man was trying to put him off.

The Blues respond well, and Ziyech has an effort blocked. Had he looked to his left, Rudiger was completely free in the box. The centre-back lets his teammate know what he thinks of that.

James Rosser at the London Stadium

13:11 , Matt Verri

West Ham have been forcing errors at the back since kick-off but that was something else from Mendy and Chelsea. West Ham have had a dodgy record from the spot in recent years but that was some spot kick from Lanzini.

GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Chelsea | Manuel Lanzini 40'

13:10 , Matt Verri

WEST HAM LEVEL THINGS UP!

Manuel Lanzini hasn’t played much this season in the league, but he’s up to the task. Mendy dives to his left, and Lanzini puts it away in the opposite corner. Great penalty.

PENALTY WEST HAM!

13:09 , Matt Verri

38 mins: Mendy has had an absolute nightmare in goal!

Ball comes back to him, and he decides not to clear it but instead shield the ball. Keeps trying to hold Bowen off, and then makes a rash challenge to bring the West Ham man down.

13:07 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Chelsea firing at goal from everywhere at the moment.

Rudiger has an effort blocked, Fabianski saves Mount’s shot from range, and Rice then comes thundering in to close down Jorginho has his lines up a strike.

Visitors have been completely dominant in the last five minutes.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

13:04 , Matt Verri

West Ham responded to the goal with Coufal’s effort but have looked a little shaky since. They get half a chance at a counter but it breaks down quickly and Moyes shakes his head. Chelsea putting the pressure on now.

13:04 , Matt Verri

34 mins: West Ham win the first header this time. James plays it back to Christensen, who must be 35 yards out. Decides he has that in the locker and lets fly... optimistic to say the least. Miles over.

13:03 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Game has become very open all of a sudden, since that goal.

Alonso very nearly gets on the end of Mount’s ball into the box. Ziyech keeps the attack going, and it falls to Loftus-Cheek on the edge of the box... straight at Fabianski.

Havertz close to getting a shot away in the box, but Diop comes flying across to clear. Corner.

James Robson at the London Stadium

13:02 , Matt Verri

That was Chelsea’s second free header in the box in the space of about a minute.

First Havertz’ effort was too close to Fabianski. But there was no mistake when the next chance came - Silva heading in Mount’s corner.

The Brazilian has now just turned saviour at the other end - clearing Coufal’s shot off the line.

13:01 , Matt Verri

30 mins: It’s very nearly 1-1 seconds later!

Ball falls to Coufal in the box, and he catches his strike so sweetly. Beats Mendy, but Thiago Silva has got back onto the line and he can clear. Brilliant defending.

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea | Thiago Silva 29'

12:59 , Matt Verri

AND CHELSEA SCORE FROM THAT ONE!

Mount into the mount, and Thiago Silva gets away from Antonio in the box. Pretty much a free header, down into the ground, and Fabianski gets something onto it, but he can’t keep it out.

The Blues have the lead.

12:58 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Chelsea do look dangerous when they break, and there’s a bit more space for them to attack.

James leads the charge, passes it to Havertz and his cross is charged down. Another corner for Chelsea. Loftus-Cheek wins the first header, but a West Ham head then puts it behind.

12:56 , Matt Verri

26 mins: West Ham have enjoyed a really good spell in this match, but Chelsea have a good chance to get the opening goal.

It’s nothing complicated either... James on the right, whips the ball into the box, and Havertz heads it on target, but straight at Fabianski. Weak effort in the end.

James Robson at the London Stadium

12:55 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have had nearly 72 percent of possession so far, but West Ham have arguably the best chances.

It shows the danger of the home side on the break and should ensure Chelsea keep their concentration even with long periods in control of the ball.

Mount has been heavily-involved in linking Chelsea’s attack, but they have not been able to get beyond the West Ham back line, who are sitting very tight so far.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

12:54 , Matt Verri

Declan Rice has got a very important role to play today. He’s sitting a bit deeper than usual and has made a fantastic start. He’s key in getting West Ham playing when they can nab the ball off Chelsea.

12:53 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Alonso wins a corner for Chelsea, as Coufal blocks his cross.

Ziyech takes it, and it’s not the best. Headed away at the near post. Jorginho keeps the attack going, and then goes down holding the ball thinking Rice has fouled him.

Midfielder is booked, as he throws the ball away in frustration.

12:50 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Such a high line from Chelsea. Rice whips it in, and it’s well defended by the visitors... Loftus-Cheek puts it behind for a corner.

Dawson flicks the header towards goal, it bounces straight back to him, but his effort is a scuffed one and it’s easily saved.

12:48 , Matt Verri

18 mins: Chelsea not able to create any big chances as of yet, West Ham keeping it really tight and making it tough for the visitors to break them down.

Rice then wins it back and is too strong for three Chelsea defenders, and he wins a free-kick. Up come the defenders.

12:45 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Mount has started the match really well. Ziyech pings a ball out to the left wing, and Mount brings it down perfectly.

He then turns Coufal with a lovely dummy, but his ball into the box is deflected away and West Ham can clear.

James Robson at the London Stadium

12:43 , Matt Verri

A couple of sloppy moments early on will have Tuchel reasonably concerned. It is nothing like as bad as it was in midweek against Watford, but the control Chelsea usually have on games is not there. When even Thiago Silva is misplacing passes, it is something to worry about.

But Chelsea do look lively up front, which is encouraging.

12:42 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Very nearly the opening goal for Chelsea after a really well worked move.

Mount with the run again, and he’s played in. Gets to the byline, pulls it back, and Havertz hits it into the side netting from close range. Should probably have done better.

Offside flag goes up anyway actually, so wouldn’t have counted.

12:40 , Matt Verri

10 mins: James getting involved early on. Has space 25 yards out and goes for goal, but it’s an easy enough save for Fabianski, even if he does have to look into the sun in the first-half.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

12:40 , Matt Verri

West Ham are forcing mistakes from Chelsea at the back but just need to be more decisive when they turn the ball over. Bowen dallied on the ball for his chance and gave the visitors time to get into position.

Encouraging start from West Ham though.

12:39 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Careless from Thiago Silva. Gives the ball away under no pressure at all, and suddenly West Ham can break. Bowen goes by himself and lets fly from outside the box, but it’s comfortably wide of the post.

Antonio then plays a ball in and Soucek runs onto it, but his header is flicked wide.

12:37 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Loftus-Cheek plays it out to the right, and James has all sorts of space.

Fires a ball into the box, it deflects to Ziyech about 10 yards out, and he can only poke it towards goal. Rolls into the path Fabianski.

12:35 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Bowen makes the run in behind, and he’s very nearly away on goal. Ball just bounces off him though, and Rudiger can mop up the danger.

Rice and Mount go shoulder-to-shoulder in a 50/50... the West Ham man shrugs off his good friend.

12:33 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Rice gives away the free-kick, and it’s a dangerous position. Reece James whips it in... Rice heads it away.

12:32 , Matt Verri

1 min: Chelsea on the front foot right from the start. Mount with a good run into the box, and his ball in is cleared away.

It’s a change in formation from West Ham but they’re still trying to push up the pitch.

KICK-OFF!

12:30 , Matt Verri

Here we go then, we are underway at the London Stadium. The Blues looking to stay top of the table, the Hammers hoping to keep their place in the top four.

West Ham matching Chelsea in terms of formation today - can they match them for performance?

12:27 , Matt Verri

Players out onto the pitch, kick-off just a few minutes away now.

Jack Rosser at the London Stadium

12:22 , Matt Verri

Moyes' pre-match thoughts

12:15 , Matt Verri

Moyes believes his side’s recent struggles are partly down to the number of players they had away during the international break - they couldn’t prepare as they usually do he feels.

The West Ham boss also says the changes today, a back five and bringing in Lanzini ahead of Benrahma/Fornals, are tactical and designed to negate the threat Chelsea pose.

20 minutes to go!

12:12 , Matt Verri

Warm-ups nearly done, players will be heading back in very soon ahead of kick-off in just under 20 minutes.

Tuchel on Lukaku decision

12:03 , Matt Verri

“The schedule is relentless, it’s such high intensity in the games. I know that Romelu is pushing, and I’m happy that he’s pushing.

“He’s impatient, that’s his nature. But there is a difference between match-ready, and training-ready, and a difference between Premier League-ready.

“We need to build him up, he needs to be a patient - which is not his nature.”

11:54 , Matt Verri

Warm-ups underway at the London Stadium. Once all photograph requirements have been fulfilled, that is...

Lanzini in from the off

11:47 , Matt Verri

A first Premier League start of the season for Manuel Lanzini. He’s made eight appearances off the bench in the leage though, including when he scored a stunner with the last kick of the game away to Man City.

With Fornals and Benrahma dropped to the bench, pressure is on for him to create this afternoon.

11:37 , Matt Verri

So, a back five for West Ham with Diop coming in alongside Dawson and Zouma. Also a different look going forward, with Lanzini into the side and Benrahma on the bench.

For Chelsea, Lukaku once again misses out on the starting XI. Four changes from Tuchel to the team that played Watford - James, Silva, Jorginho and Ziyech all come into the side.

CHELSEA LINE-UP

11:32 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Mendy, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger, James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Ziyech

Subs: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Sarr, Saul, Barkley, Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Pulisic

WEST HAM LINE-UP

11:30 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Diop, Johnson, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Lanzini, Antonio

Subs: Areola, Masuaku, Ashby, Noble, Kral, Fornals, Yarmolenko, Benrahma, Vlasic

11:26 , Matt Verri

Five minutes to go until we have all the team news from the London Stadium. Romelu Lukaku could return to the starting line-up for Chelsea, while the home fans will be hoping Aaron Cresswell is fit enough to feature.

How it stands

11:20 , Matt Verri

Win this afternoon and West Ham know they will be fourth in the table whatever happens over the rest of the weekend. A defeat though would mean both Arsenal and Tottenham could overtake them, while Man United and Wolves could draw level on points.

Chelsea sit just one point clear at the top of the table, so any dropped points would give Liverpool and then Man City the chance to take top spot later today.

Moyes wants West Ham to ‘have a good go'

11:05 , Matt Verri

Speaking during the week at his press-conference, Moyes wants his side to approach the match in a positive. Watford played well in midweek against Chelsea, with Tuchel admitting his side were lucky to win, and the West Ham boss has taken confidence from that.

“I think the Wednesday game was a tough game for everybody,” Moyes said.

“I think for the midweek fixture, Thomas Tuchel made five or six changes. He changed the team around a lot. A lot of clubs probably looked to do it because of the amount of games coming up.

“ Also when you have a squad of players you have to keep your squad a part of it.

“I would probably expect Chelsea’s team to be close to the teams they [usually] put out. Does it give us encouragement, how Watford played? It was good to see Watford have a good go and get close. We have to have a good go and hopefully get even closer.”

Zouma out to make Chelsea ‘suffer’ in ‘special’ reunion

10:55 , George Flood

Today’s derby will see West Ham defender Kurt Zouma go up against the club for whom he made 151 appearances over a seven-year spell before leaving in a £29.8m deal last summer.

And the French centre-back says he is out to make his former employers suffer this afternoon.

“It will feel special in a way because I’ve been there for so many years,” said Zouma.

“I want to beat Chelsea because I want to beat everybody.

“I play for West Ham now and I’m very happy to be here.

“It’s going to be a tough game as we know they have a lot of strength, but we have to use our strength to make them suffer.”

10:46 , George Flood

A wonderfully clear and bright but cold December morning in London today.

Perfect conditions for football!

Tuchel labels transfer target Rice a ‘Chelsea boy’

10:31 , George Flood

Speaking of Tuchel’s pre-match press conference, referring to West Ham star - and former Blues youngster and known transfer target - Declan Rice as a “Chelsea boy” was always likely to ruffle some feathers ahead of today’s big game.

“It happens at every single club in the world that sometimes players get released in one moment and they have their career on a different way, so this is a pretty normal thing,” said Tuchel.

“I am absolutely aware that he is a Chelsea boy and he comes through the academy and he is very close to our guys.

“He’s a very strong player and in general, I am absolutely impressed by (Tomas) Soucek and him, what they do since I came into the Premier League. What they do for West Ham.

“They are real helpers on the pitch, they have an incredible volume both of them. They take responsibility for high pressing, for deep defending, for filling the gaps on the wings, for deep build-up, for goals from set-pieces. Both of them are simply doing everything.”

Tuchel jokes Rangnick could have replaced him after one game

10:27 , George Flood

Eyebrows were raised yesterday when new Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick claimed that he was approached to take the temporary reins at Chelsea in February, only to reject the offer as it included no offer of a long-term role.

His timings on that would mean he spoke to the Blues after protege Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard on January 26.

It is understood Chelsea’s interest in Rangnick came before then, when he, Tuchel, and current Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann were all candidates for the job.

Regardless, Tuchel laughed it off at his own press conference on Friday.

“So maybe that was after our draw against Wolves!” he said. “Maybe the bosses saw the draw against Wolves and thought, ‘He doesn’t know what he’s doing, let’s bring Ralf in for four months!’.

“He must have the date wrong, hopefully. Let’s say hopefully.”

Standard Sport prediction

10:17 , George Flood

Chelsea obviously haven’t been at their best recently but are still managing to pull results out of the bag despite that.

With Romelu Lukaku slowly getting back up to speed and West Ham’s forwards floundering of late, it’s hard to look past an away victory.

Chelsea to win 1-0.

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