Follow live coverage of Chelsea v West Ham United here

Chelsea
Chelsea have to put in a professional performance against West Ham United Getty

Chelsea host West Ham United in a London derby at the Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day as the Hammers look to strengthen their position in the top four.

Where to watch live

Kick-off is set for 12:45pm GMT. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1HD. Highlights of the game will be available at 11pm on Match of the Day on BBC One.

Overview

Chelsea have been unstoppable this season. The Blues have scored goals for fun and have lost only one game in the league so far. Jose Mourinho's men are looking to pile on a quadruple this season, having made it to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup against Liverpool.

Standing on top of the table, they're now being threatened by Manchester City who came back rejuvenated and are placed just three points below the London club. The Christmas period is likely to be an early indication of how things will pan out in the New Year.

The Blues come into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Stoke City at the Britannia, where they stumped the Potters at their own game and rode their physical approach to come out victorious.

Meanwhile, West Ham have been the team to watch out for this season, currently placed fourth in the league, they have so far managed to overcome the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool. Sam Allardyce's men have shown that a team need not spend millions to piece together a successful team.

However, their real character will be gauged now as they face their London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal in back to back games, a period should they manage to tide through, will lead them to greater heights.

Alex Song
Alex Song has compared West Ham United to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid Reuters

What managers say

Jose Mourinho: "If they finish top four, then manager of the season is Big Sam, the team of the season West Ham, because it would be an amazing achievement comparing West Ham with the investment that other teams did to finish in the top four. He has my respect. Both teams are different from last season. We are a better team, we have more creativity, we have more goals, we have more attacking dynamism. And West Ham is also a better team. They are not a team in this moment to just try not to concede. They also try to score goals, so the game will be very difficult."

Sam Allardyce: "I think what disappointed me at Bolton – not that I'm saying this is going to happen this time – was my squad was short in depth and it had done as much as it could to get in the top three. In fact, on 1 January we were third in the league with 39 points and it was then that I went to strengthen that squad and wasn't allowed to, which was the biggest disappointment probably of my management career. Being sacked, that's a disappointment, but to think that we were there .This scenario, I think the squad we've got now, it's going to be very difficult with the players that are going to be available in January to make it better. Our strength in depth is far greater than the Bolton squad then, which Kevin was in, playing absolutely brilliantly at that particular time with Nicolas Anelka."

Betting odds ((by 888Sport)

  • Chelsea to win: 6/19
  • Draw: 49/11
  • West Ham United to win: 9/1

Team form

Chelsea

  • Last five (all competitions): L W W W W
  • Last result: Stoke City 0-2 Chelsea

West Ham

  • Last five (all competitions): W W W D W
  • Last result: West Ham 2-0 Leicester City

Team News

Chelsea

  • Injured: Nathan Ake (hamstring)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended:N/A

Possible XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa.

West Ham United

  • Injured: Diafra Sakho
  • Doubtful: Mark Noble
  • Suspended:N/A

Possible XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Valencia, Carroll.

Chelsea FC