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Chelsea v West Ham team news: Pedro sub, Palmer starts

31 January 2026 604 comments
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A much-changed Chelsea take on West Ham United in the penultimate Premier League game of the day.

Kick-off is at 17:30 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

As expected, Liam Rosenior has rung the changes for this evening’s encounter with the Hammers.

Only four players keep their places from midweek: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.

Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro are among the players dropping to the bench.

After a bright cameo in Naples, Cole Palmer makes his first start in a fortnight.

Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap are also brought into the side.

The West Ham team news is a little bit easier, with just one alteration.

El Hadji Malick Diouf comes in for Ollie Scarles at left-back.

Adama Traore is among the substitutes after joining from Fulham.

LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Hato, Caicedo, Fernandez, Garnacho, Palmer, Gittens, Delap.

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Fofana, James, Acheampong, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Neto, Guiu, Joao Pedro.

West Ham United XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf, Bowen, Fernandes, Soucek, Summerville, Pablo, Castellanos.

Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Scarles, Kante, Potts, Magassa, Adama, Wilson.

price change predictions
604 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Cojones of Destiny
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    sold bowen on wc but avoided double chelsea def lol

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  2. JohnnyB10
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 13 days ago

    I told ya guys, Bowen regardless of the fixture! He is not going anywhere till the end of the season 🙂

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  3. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Take a Bowen

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  4. Sun God Nika
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Benched him twice jesus christ

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    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Don't mean to sound unkind, but why own a $talisman if you don't play him every gw for the upside?

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      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 13 days ago

        This!!

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  5. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Raya, it is

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  6. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Chelsea defence is worse than Pep roulette

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  7. Rwilliams90
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    People going all in on Chelsea and United like they aren't both bang average and just had a new manager bounce.

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Average would be around 9th to 12th in the league. Where are they again?

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      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        The league is absolute toilet at the minute tbf, Amorim couldn't string two results together and we were a win away from 4th for weeks

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  8. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Sanchez and Chalobah CS gone already. Palmer do something for 45 mins

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    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      I didn't fancy the double up in defence
      So I went Chalobah & Roefs
      Hopefully can get some defcon & possibly attacking returns.

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  9. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    What happened to Estevao? Not in squad

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      been given some time off for personal reasons

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        Thanks

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      personal reasons

      https://x.com/i/status/2017638557125345764

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        Cheers

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  10. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Had planned to get Chalobah next GW, but maybe Munoz the better choice?

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Palace are conceding more

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      i think palace would need to sign a good CB to fill in for guehi to go for munoz tbh

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  11. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Bowen is my biggest troll ever. Had him when no one had. Got rid two weeks ago and now he has become Ronaldo .

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    1. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      I’ve owned him since GW18.

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    2. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      He has now leapfrogged Eva and Thiago as an Eki replacement/funds freeer uppper.

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    3. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Had him a good while

      decided to bench him last three gameweeks

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    4. TallestJohn
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      He's been my biggest troll this season. Got rid of him three separate times because West Ham look awful but then whoever I buy (Gyökeres, Woltemade, Igor Thiago) goes off the boil.

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  12. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    petrovic to sanchez *switches off tv*

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      *hugs*

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  13. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    should be 0-2. Enzo looks white and shattered. overplayed

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  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Chelsea looking trash

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  15. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    why on earth is Enzo playing. keeps losing the ball.

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  16. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    west ham bringing 442 back, you love it see it

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      *to see it

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  17. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    should be 0-3 now

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      This is how xG was born

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        god bless amerikah

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  18. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    ekitike hat trick tonight boys and girls.

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      you mis-spelt salah 😉

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        running down da wing

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  19. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Chelsea looking crap. Wonder if it might have anything to do with rotating most of your best players out of the team for a London derby match

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      exactly. crazy line up. clearly looking at the league cup game

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      1. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        You mean Reece notbstarting? what else? Estevao not available.... Maybe Neto could have started over Gittens... Disagree that these 2 rotations are crucial.

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        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 13 days ago

          Joao Pedro, James, Neto, Cucarella, Estevao….
          That’s quite a few…

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          1. Von Lipwig
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 13 days ago

            no, wrong, sorry

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            1. Von Lipwig
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 13 days ago

              whole squad needs to be playing to be successful and the replacements are all good. Football is fickle, Chelsea can win this

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          2. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 13 days ago

            Pedro just back from injury
            James made of glass
            Neto and Cucurella rubbish
            Estevao personal reasons

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  20. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    At least kept VVD over getting Chalo, may be getting Bowen for next GW.

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  21. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Palmer isn't moving freely

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    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Without wishing injury upon anyone, it certainly wouldn’t be the worst thing if JP had to come on for him cos he felt something and came off as a precaution

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        yeah, JP should come in. hammers midfield bypassing palmer at the moment

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      2. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        Think I'd prefer Santos coming on and Enzo being pushed forward.

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  22. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Serves Chelsea right for benching J Pedro.

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    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      And James

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        James can't play every game. he's super injury prone

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  23. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Chelsea haven't had a sniff

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Palmer FK pass to Areola counts

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        lolz

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  24. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Delap is a decent striker…
    For a championship team!

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  25. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Chelsea is still winning this game imo

    2-1 or 3-1

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      yeah the bench should win this.

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  26. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    I think I just watched 30 seconds of Garnacho passing the ball to West Ham players and getting it back

    Delayed stream though

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    1. Stoic
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Yep
      Left side v weak for che

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  27. WVA
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Players that are different to my rivals, Verbruggen blank, Chalobah blank, Rice blank.

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  28. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    they need to stop this time wasting, quarter match team talks

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      *ok fair enough he was actually injured

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  29. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    gittens injured going off

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  30. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 13 days ago

    Think I read Palmer needs surgery but is refusing to get it done as it would mean missing the WC. Is Tuchel really going to pick someone whose fitness can't be trusted?

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      yeah makes sense. he's been struggling all season.

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        probably having intense physio and possibly injections

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      He obviously will pick him, not even a question

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      1. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 13 days ago

        I do wonder if he's given Palmer assurances that he'll get picked. Tuchel setting himself up for stick if Palmer limps through the rest of the season and does nothing at the WC

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 13 days ago

          No one will give him stick except Chelsea fans and why would he care

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          1. Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 13 days ago

            I suspect many England fans will care if he picks a crocked out of form player over someone more deserving.

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              2 months, 13 days ago

              Who would be more 'deserving' of his spot? A half-fit Palmer is still a better option than most of the attackers on the plane, never mind the ones left at home.

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              1. Jet5605
                • 11 Years
                2 months, 13 days ago

                Fundamentally disagree there. Fitness is huge in a major tournament. Even Kane was useless last time and he was just knackered rather than injured. Rogers, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Eze, even KDH or Garner would be better than a crocked Cole. Picking injured players rarely pays off.

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                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  2 months, 13 days ago

                  Rogers, Rice, Bellingham and Foden will be going anyway (unless injured) - picking James Garner over Palmer (who is still fit enough to start matches btw!) is so mad, I've never been happier that the squad isn't decided by fan vote

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                  1. Jet5605
                    • 11 Years
                    2 months, 13 days ago

                    I'm not English and so it makes no odds to me. Tuchel was watching Everton and talking to Moyes about Garner a week or so ago and so it's not that mad. Palmer being found out as we speak. He shouldn't be playing and needs surgery.

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    3. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Might not even end up in the squad

      And that American weather will test their fitness

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    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 13 days ago

      Tuchel would happily drop a fit Bellingham for Palmer...

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