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Will Graham Potter Feel The Monday Blues On His Return To Stamford Bridge? Chelsea VS West Ham Preview

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Graham Potter returns to Stamford Bridge in Chelsea’s Monday night Premier League clash against West Ham.


Potter’s West Ham team will face a troubled Chelsea side that has had mixed results since the beginning of the festive period. Last weekend's frustrating result and performance against Manchester City have created animosity among fans, who are starting to question Enzo Maresca and his managerial decisions. This game will be a must-win if Maresca wants to win back the fans swiftly.


The Irons themselves are far from good form, since Julian Lopetgui’s dismissal from the club, they have lost two out of their last four games, winning only one. Their most recent match saw former Chelsea player, Emerson Palmeri, score the equaliser against Aston Villa to claim a point away from home.


There is a good chance that the visitor’s star player, Jarred Bowen, will return to the squad after an extended absence caused by a fractured foot he picked up at the start of the month. No other returning players for the Hammers, with Jean Claude-Todibo expected to miss out with a Muscle injury.


For the Blues, no players absent from last week’s fixture due to injury will return to the squad. Maresca confirmed this, stating: “They [Injuries] are exactly the same as the last one. Romeo is out, Wes is out, Benoit is out. The rest are okay.”


The continued absence of centre-backs will likely mean that Trevoh Chalobah will deservedly retain his spot in the starting lineup alongside Levi Colwill. Even though managing Reece James’ fitness will be the top priority, it will be difficult for Maresca to leave the Englishman out of the side after his stellar recent performances. Marc Cucurella will slot in at left-back, providing width defensively while Reece James inverts into the midfield.


After receiving heavy backlash, Robert Sanchez seems unlikely to start in goal on Monday. However, Maresca revealed in the press conference for this game that he is yet to decide on the starting goalkeeper: “We have two or three days. Any decision I make, I feel good because Filip has done well. Filip or Robert, we will see, but any decision will be okay.”


The midfield will likely stay the same, fans will hope that there is more energy from Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo who struggled away at the Etihad last Saturday.


Maresca admitted that a key issue for Chelsea as of late has been there lack of clinical finishing in the box with Nicolas Jackson trailing off form after an impressive first half of the season: “All the games, we have chances to score. The big difference in this moment, I know we struggle with results in the last six, seven or eight, the performance is there.”


Despite his drop in form, Jackson should keep his place in the starting lineup. Maresca does not trust Marc Guiu to start and Christopher Nkunku has struggled to replicate his goalscoring form in Europe in the Premier League.


The wing partnership also struggled last weekend. Outside of his relatively easy goal, Noni Madueke struggled to create many chances, and Jadon Sancho’s performance could best be described as passive. Madueke should keep his spot, with Pedro Neto taking Sancho’s spot on the left wing, as Maresca prefers Neto on the left instead of the right.


It will be no surprise to see Cole Palmer start in the side, who also struggled away at his former club however unless he is being rested or is injured, Palmer will always be the first name on the team sheet.


After Newcastle and Bournemouth’s losses on Saturday, a victory for the Blues will allow them to leapfrog Newcastle into fifth place and potentially over Manchester City in fourth if they fail to win at the Emirates on Sunday.


CHE Predicted XI: F. Jorgensen, R. James (C), T. Chalobah, L. Colwill, M. Cucurella, E. Fernandez, M. Caicedo, P. Neto, N. Madueke, C. Palmer, N. Jackson


WHU Predicted XI: A. Areola, K. Mavropanos, M. Kilman, V. Coufal, A. Wan-Bissaka, T. Soucek (C), E. Alvarez, Emerson, C. Soler, M. Kudus, L. Paqueta


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