Dugout Discussion
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. Total Slotball
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Never understood managers making 7 matchday changes to rest their better players. Then bring them on at HT. Why not start them and bring them off early after the job is done?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Expected an easy game

      The preference is to score so many that you can give your main guys a full rest

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Sports science? Get the best result from a season?

    3. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      You don’t understand why a Chelsea manager would expect to beat West Ham with a £2b squad?

  2. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Chelsea have only 1 sub left...

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      No CS albeit low xGC

  3. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    So happy Delap went to Chelsea instead of MU and that Chelsea where dumb enough to buy Garnacho as well.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      I don’t get the Delap love at all.

  4. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Playing Chalobah and transferring in Enzo for the jammy West Ham fixture was a great success

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Knowsit

  5. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Enzo playing so deep in this second half. Urrgh.

  6. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Bowen feigning injury to avoid a card

  7. Bolivian Seaman
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    West Ham have been brilliant

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Chelski 5hite

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Nice work

      1. Bolivian Seaman
        • 15 Years
        1 day, 3 hours ago

        I jinxed it, yeah sorry

      2. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 3 hours ago

        Need more negativity

  8. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike

    Subs: Mamardashvili, Robertson, Ramsay, Nallo, Endo, Jones, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha

    Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Willock, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga

    Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Murphy, Shahar, Miley, Wissa, Osula, Murphy, Woltemade

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      szobo RB

      Gordon CF

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      cheers

      thats some serious pace up top

    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      0-0 incoming

  9. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Chelsea G

  10. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Rank killer

  11. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    pedro g
    fofana a

  12. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Has to be him

  13. dhamphiir
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    J. Pedro Goal

  14. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    1-2 Pedro

  15. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Proper jammers new Pedro owners, will be there next week...

  16. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Yes j pedro!!

  17. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Theres more to come. Its over for West ham

  18. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Impact subs

    What a run by Fofana

  19. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    pedro off the bench for saka. now thats what we love to see

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Not what you said earlier

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        1 day, 3 hours ago

        i said it was the worst season ever. both statements can be true

  20. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    J P!!!! Time to score a hattie!

  21. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Most obviously benching this game. Casuals rewarded again...

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      well I didn’t, deserved

    2. fusen
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      It's not all about minutes though. Pedro is a real purple patch player and people in form can score with even just 15 minutes cameos.

      Personally I didn't transfer him in as didn't think it was worth it but there was always the chance of a goal off the bench in this and any of his next easy fixtures

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 3 hours ago

        It's not wise to buy someone who is obviously going to be benched...

  22. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Poor defending from Summerville, gave Fofana a lot of space to drive towards the box

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Made way

    2. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      If defending is 100% accurate, whats the fun in football?

  23. Cojones of Destiny
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    yes JP! never in doubt

  24. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Pedro was the move, not Enzo

  25. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Where is camzy who benched j pedro on purpose?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Reminder that Pedro didn't start

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      so did i. benchjing a player who u think will be benched is the correct call. im getting him off the bench for saka so got lucky

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Here. And disappointed that I was not rewarded for making the correct decision.

  26. HD7
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Did Bowen to Joao Pedro before the GW... it was the right decision right... right?

    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Probably. I did ekitike to j pedro

    2. TallestJohn
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      If I still had Bowen I would've kept knowing he's on pens now. I went with JP for form and fixtures, rotation be damned.

  27. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Need a Chalobah bullet header

  28. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Could do with a West Ham penalty and Sanchez save, looking likely?

  29. Zilla
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Pedro is in the form of his life, would have captained if there wasn't rotation.