West Ham United welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium on 22 August 2025 in an evening Premier League fixture. Both sides will be seeking to build early-season momentum, with Chelsea targeting consistency under their current project and West Ham aiming to consolidate mid-table stability.
Recent Form
West Ham opened the campaign with mixed results, combining a home draw against Aston Villa with a narrow away defeat to Tottenham. Their performances have shown defensive resilience but limited attacking output. Chelsea, meanwhile, have begun strongly, securing two wins from their first three fixtures, including a convincing home victory over Wolverhampton. The Blues’ improved defensive structure has been notable compared to last season’s inconsistencies.
Head-to-Head Record
In their last 10 Premier League meetings, Chelsea have won five, West Ham three, with two draws. At the London Stadium, West Ham have caused difficulties for Chelsea, winning two of the last four meetings, including a 3-2 victory in July 2020. However, Chelsea claimed a 2-1 win in this fixture last season.
Injuries and Suspensions
West Ham are without key centre-back Nayef Aguerd through injury, while Michail Antonio remains a doubt. Chelsea have fitness concerns over Reece James, with the full-back expected to miss out, and midfielder Enzo Fernández remains suspended following a red card in the previous round.
Tactical Overview
David Moyes is likely to maintain a compact 4-2-3-1, relying on Jarrod Bowen’s direct runs and set-piece opportunities. Chelsea, under their current approach, have leaned on a 4-3-3, emphasising controlled possession and exploiting wide overloads through Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling. West Ham’s ability to defend transitions will be tested against Chelsea’s pace in wide areas.
Referee Statistics
The match will be officiated by Michael Oliver, who averaged 3.7 yellow cards per game in the Premier League last season. He is generally consistent but does not shy away from awarding penalties, averaging one every five games in 2024/25.
Betting Insights
West Ham’s home matches last season averaged 2.9 goals, while Chelsea’s away fixtures averaged 2.6. Both teams have scored in four of their last six head-to-head meetings, suggesting BTTS (Both Teams to Score) could be a value option. Chelsea’s recent defensive improvements make them slight favourites, but West Ham’s home record against top-six sides highlights potential value in handicap markets.
