Dugout Discussion

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

31 January 2026 604 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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
    • 7 Years
    2 days, 2 hours ago

    sold bowen on wc but avoided double chelsea def lol

    Open Controls
  2. JohnnyB10
      2 days, 2 hours ago

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

      Open Controls
    • Ha.
      • 10 Years
      2 days, 2 hours ago

      Take a Bowen

      Open Controls
    • Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      2 days, 2 hours ago

      Benched him twice jesus christ

      Open Controls
      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. JohnnyB10
            2 days, 2 hours ago

            This!!

            Open Controls
      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Raya, it is

        Open Controls
      3. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Chelsea defence is worse than Pep roulette

        Open Controls
      4. Rwilliams90
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

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

          Open Controls
          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 2 hours 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

            Open Controls
      5. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. keefy59
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

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

          Open Controls
      6. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        What happened to Estevao? Not in squad

        Open Controls
        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          been given some time off for personal reasons

          Open Controls
          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

            Thanks

            Open Controls
        2. Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          personal reasons

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

          Open Controls
          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

            Cheers

            Open Controls
      7. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          Palace are conceding more

          Open Controls
        2. F4L
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

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

          Open Controls
      8. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          I’ve owned him since GW18.

          Open Controls
        2. Jet5605
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

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

          Open Controls
        3. Sun God Nika
          • 5 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          Had him a good while

          decided to bench him last three gameweeks

          Open Controls
        4. TallestJohn
          • 8 Years
          2 days, 1 hour 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.

          Open Controls
      9. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        petrovic to sanchez *switches off tv*

        Open Controls
        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          *hugs*

          Open Controls
      10. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
      11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Chelsea looking trash

        Open Controls
      12. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
      13. F4L
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        west ham bringing 442 back, you love it see it

        Open Controls
        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          *to see it

          Open Controls
      14. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        should be 0-3 now

        Open Controls
        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          This is how xG was born

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

            god bless amerikah

            Open Controls
      15. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        ekitike hat trick tonight boys and girls.

        Open Controls
        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          you mis-spelt salah 😉

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

            running down da wing

            Open Controls
      16. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 2 hours 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

        Open Controls
        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

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

          Open Controls
          1. Von Lipwig
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

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

            Open Controls
            1. thegaffer82
              • 14 Years
              2 days, 1 hour ago

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

              Open Controls
              1. Von Lipwig
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                2 days, 1 hour ago

                no, wrong, sorry

                Open Controls
                1. Von Lipwig
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  2 days, 1 hour ago

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

                  Open Controls
              2. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                2 days, 1 hour ago

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

                Open Controls
      17. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
      18. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Palmer isn't moving freely

        Open Controls
        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 days, 2 hours 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

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

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

            Open Controls
          2. Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

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

            Open Controls
      19. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Serves Chelsea right for benching J Pedro.

        Open Controls
        1. Kaneyonero
          • 9 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          And James

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 2 hours ago

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

            Open Controls
      20. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Chelsea haven't had a sniff

        Open Controls
        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 2 hours ago

          Palmer FK pass to Areola counts

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 1 hour ago

            lolz

            Open Controls
      21. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Delap is a decent striker…
        For a championship team!

        Open Controls
      22. Gudjohnsen
        • 9 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        Chelsea is still winning this game imo

        2-1 or 3-1

        Open Controls
        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

          yeah the bench should win this.

          Open Controls
      23. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Delayed stream though

        Open Controls
        1. Stoic
          • 9 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

          Yep
          Left side v weak for che

          Open Controls
      24. WVA
        • 9 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
      25. F4L
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

          *ok fair enough he was actually injured

          Open Controls
      26. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 days, 2 hours ago

        gittens injured going off

        Open Controls
      27. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        2 days, 1 hour 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?

        Open Controls
        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

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

          Open Controls
          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            2 days, 1 hour ago

            probably having intense physio and possibly injections

            Open Controls
        2. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

          He obviously will pick him, not even a question

          Open Controls
          1. Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            2 days, 1 hour 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

            Open Controls
            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              2 days, 1 hour ago

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

              Open Controls
              1. Jet5605
                • 11 Years
                2 days, 1 hour ago

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

                Open Controls
                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  2 days, 1 hour 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.

                  Open Controls
                  1. Jet5605
                    • 11 Years
                    2 days, 1 hour 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.

                    Open Controls
                    1. x.jim.x
                      • 11 Years
                      2 days, 1 hour 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

                      Open Controls
                      1. Jet5605
                        • 11 Years
                        2 days, 1 hour 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.

                        Open Controls
        3. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

          Might not even end up in the squad

          And that American weather will test their fitness

          Open Controls
        4. Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          2 days, 1 hour ago

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

          Open Controls

      You need to be logged in to post a comment.