West Ham vs Chelsea betting preview

Despite drawing to Fulham in midweek, Chelsea climbed to third in the table. This weekend they face London rivals, West Ham. The Hammers are unbeaten in three games at Upton Park and with striker Andy Carroll opening his goal account recently; we could be in for quite a game.  Choose a free bet for this match from leading UK bookmakers.

Chelsea has drawn nil nil in two successive games. The first time that has happened since 2004. They have also gone six Premier League games without a victory. A seventh game will represent worst since 1995. Rafa Benitez is already under pressure from fans, the owner and the press. Three points and some goals especially from Torres will help boost overall morale.

The Blues have registered eighteen victories against West Ham in the Premier League. Chelsea has only beaten Spurs and Manchester City more. David Luiz is suspended for this game for picking up too many yellow cards. This could work in Chelsea’s favour as past and present managers have liked to pick the ambitious Brazilian ahead of the other level headed centre backs Chelsea have.

It has been calculated that Fernando Torres hasn’t scored in ten hours and forty nine minutes. The fifty million pound striker is under a lot of pressure but has scored six times in six appearances against West Ham, his best record against anyone.

After a good start to the season, West Ham have had a few defeats. They were well beaten last weekend against Spurs and lost to Manchester United in midweek. Another London rival, Arsenal also beat them at Upton Park recently. West Ham now sit tenth in the league with a neutral goal difference. However West Ham have won forty seven per cent of their home games since the beginning of last season when they were in the Championship.

Andy Carroll was a revelation on his first start for the Hammers but has since failed to reignite that performance. His goal last weekend will help and hopefully he can link up with surrounding players such as top scorer Kevin Nolan (five goals). Known for their aerial dominance, West Ham are the only team not to have conceded a header this season in the league. On the other hand, out of Chelsea’s conceded goals, thirty eight per cent of them have been headers, a league high.

Fernando Torres to score first, 11/2 on Bet 365

Andy Carroll last goal scorer, 7/1 on Bet Fred

Chelsea to win 3-1, 14/1 on William Hill

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Written by Kelvin Morgan

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