West Ham United vs Chelsea. Premier League.
London StadiumAttendance56,984.
Monday 6 March 2017 18:05, UK
Premier League title favourites Chelsea travel east to take on West Ham United in what should be a spicy London derby on Monday Night Football.
Only four teams in Premier League history have had more points at this stage of a season than Chelsea's 63 points. The only team with 63 or more points after 26 games not to go on to win the title was Arsenal in 2007/08.
Chelsea have won 17 of 19 Premier League games against teams outside top-six this season but have lost their last two away games against West Ham.
One of those defeats came earlier in the season when the Hammers knocked Chelsea out of the EFL Cup.
Andy Carroll is set to replace Michail Antonio in the West Ham squad.
Striker Carroll is fit after missing the last two games with a groin injury but winger Antonio is suspended following his red card at Watford last weekend.
Diafra Sakho (back) and Angelo Ogbonna (knee) are the only injury absentees.
Eden Hazard is expected to be fit for Chelsea despite a knock.
Hazard was on the receiving end of a kick in training, but head coach Antonio Conte expects the Belgium playmaker to be available at the London Stadium.
Chelsea, leaders by 10 points entering into this weekend's fixtures, have no other injury concerns.
Coverage of Monday Night Football starts at 7pm live on Sky Sports 1 with presenter David Jones joined by Jamie Carragher and special guest Frank Lampard and you can also watch all the action in UHD via Sky Q.
Not able to watch the game? Sky Sports still has you covered, with minute-by-minute commentary across all digital platforms as well as in-game clips, half-time and full-time highlights available on the mobile app and in the Football Score Centre with a free Sky iD.
This is the first league meeting between the sides at the London Stadium - the Hammers won just two of their last 10 Premier League games against Chelsea at Upton Park (D1 L7).
Chelsea have lost only two of their last 21 Premier League games against West Ham United (W15 D4).
However, the Hammers eliminated Chelsea from the EFL Cup at the fourth round stage this season; winning 2-1 at the London Stadium.
Conte has lost two of his three away London derbies in the Premier League, suffering defeat by Arsenal in September and Tottenham in January, while beating Crystal Palace in the other game.
Carroll has scored five goals in his last three home London derbies in the Premier League.
Carroll is one goal away from his 50th strike in the Premier League and has scored in two of his last three games against Chelsea.
Cesc Fabregas recorded his 102nd Premier League assist in what was his 300th Premier League game last weekend. He needs one more to move outright second ahead of Frank Lampard (also 102).
Fabregas has already matched his total of assists from last season (seven) and assisted twice in last Premier League game against West Ham in March 2016.
Manuel Lanzini has scored in seven of his 11 Premier League London derby appearances (seven goals). He's scored four goals in 38 Premier League appearances against non-London sides.
The suspended Antonio has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other West Ham player this season (11).
Diego Costa has scored 48 goals in 78 Premier League appearances. Should he score two or more goals in this game, he'll be the fifth quickest to 50 goals in the competition after Andrew Cole (65 apps), Alan Shearer (66 apps), Ruud van Nistelrooy (68 apps) and Fernando Torres (72 apps).
Chelsea look like a well-oiled machine at the moment which is showing now signs of any faults. They did lose to West Ham at the London Stadium in the EFL Cup earlier in the season, but I do not expect a repeat performance. I expect Chelsea to win this game. West Ham have struggled in front of their own fans and are a better side away from home.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Chelsea are just 8/13 with Sky Bet to take another crucial step towards the Premier League title by beating West Ham, who are 17/4 to upset their rivals with a win and 3/1 to hold out for a draw.
Conte's men headed into the weekend as 1/8 shots to lift the trophy while their hosts are 8/11 to secure a top-half finish. Costa heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 with Andy Carroll considered the hosts' main threat at 15/2, while the strike duo are 9/2 both to find the net.
