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One of the stand out matches from this weekend’s Premier League fixtures sees relegation threatened West Ham take on title outsiders Chelsea at Upton Park.
Both teams need the points as we enter the final eight games of the season, but for completely different reasons.
West Ham are hoping to emerge from one of the closest relegation battles for many years with their Premier League place intact. The Hammers currently sit in 17th position, level on points with Wolves who occupy the final relegation spot.
To highlight how tight things are in the bottom half, West Ham could go as high as 13th if they secure three points over Chelsea. Every single game is crucial for Avram Grant’s men, that is for sure.
They are in good spirits at the moment though, having gone four Premier League games without defeat. Scott Parker has been at the centre of everything good for them during this run and he will look to be at his influential best against his former club.
As for Chelsea, they are also in a good run of form having won their last three league games, defeating Manchester United and Manchester City along the way.
The Blues fans have a new hero in David Luiz and they will be hoping that £50m man Fernando Torres can start to have a similar impact for his new club. The Spaniard has failed to score since moving from Liverpool and would love to break his duck this weekend.
With regards to Chelsea’s title chances, they just need to keep winning. As things stand, they are nine points behind Manchester United with a game in hand, so they are very much outsiders.
However, Carlo Ancelotti will call on his team to continue their winning streak this weekend, thus heaping pressure on the top two. Should either of Arsenal or Manchester Untied slip up – Chelsea will be waiting.
Despite West Ham’s good form, the visitors will be expected to come away from Upton Park with three points. There has been a ruthlessness about Ancelotti’s men of late and their clinical finishing should be enough to move past a resilient West Ham side.
As has been the pattern with the Premier League this season though, anything can happen on the day with every single team capable of defeating even the best sides.
West Ham are fighting for their lives too, so the atmosphere is likely to be electric. Keep your eye on this one at the weekend.
