Projected Chelsea line-up To Play Against West Ham – Matic To Be Involved Again?

After picking up a narrow 1-0 win against Stoke in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Chelsea now turn their attention towards the relegation threatened West Ham, who are currently eighteenth in the Premier League table. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has already boosted his fragile squad with Italian pair Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino signing loan deals until the end of the season last week from Italy.

Jose Mourinho’s side are currently third in the table and with Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of the London side. The Stamford Bridge outfit have had a great start to the new year and Mourinho will be keen to continue that run and cause more agony to Sam Allardyce and his Hammers. Last time these two sides met was at Upton Park when the Blues steamrolled the West Ham outfit by a 3-0 margin. Can they better the score in their first match since the post Mata era? We here at Soccersouls provide our readers with Chelsea’s strongest eleven against West Ham.    

Goalkeeping:

Peter Cech is expected to start in goal afresh and will be eager to get yet another clean sheet at home and going by West Ham’s current form, don’t be surprised if he is rarely troubled throughout the entire course of ninety minutes. Fantasy Managers can perhaps pick him for a clean sheet offer.

Defence:

Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta are expected to start on either wing back slots and will look to barge forward at every opportunity thus putting pressure on West Ham’s wingers. John Terry and Gary Cahill are expected to play alongside each other in the heart of the defence and will be looking to contain the West Ham attackers. David Luiz might perhaps be relegated to the bench yet again or find himself coming on late as a substitute, playing in the central defensive midfield.

Midfield:

New signing Nemanja Matic, who had a great game against Stoke might be expected to start alongside either of Ramires or Lampard. Matic would look forward to a splendid full League home debut in front of the vociferous set of fans as Mourinho might just hand him a start. Frank Lampard too is under consideration and now with Essien off to AC Milan, Mourinho will have clearly set his players for the right positions. Chelsea’s strongest asset has been their triumvirate just behind the lone striker up front. Oscar is expected to start in the number ten role with Eden Hazard and André Schürrle on either side of him. Oscar’s wonderful free kick ensured Chelsea got the win against Stoke while Belgian Hazard would look to carry on from where he left.

Strike Force:

With Fernando Torres out with an injury, hattrick hero Samuel Eto’o would be the first name on the team list.