Chelsea will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome London rivals West Ham United to Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.
The Blues have slipped down the table following back-to-back defeats, while the Hammers have lost only one of their last six and are one point behind their opponents.
Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Leeds United on December 5, but they have since lost away to Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Frank Lampard put the 2-1 loss to Wolves at Molineux down to fatigue, his side having let a one-goal lead given to them by Olivier Giroud slip away in the final 25 minutes.
Given the tight nature of the division, Chelsea entered matchday 14 down in seventh place, six points off reigning champions and current pacesetters Liverpool.
Chelsea therefore cannot afford to lose a third straight league match for the first time since 2015, especially with games against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City up next.
Lampard’s men have drawn two of their last four home league matches, and four of the last seven in all competitions, which is something West Ham will be looking to capitalise on.
The Hammers have won back-to-back away top-flight games, against Sheffield United and Leeds, which is as many as they managed in their previous 14 on the road.
David Moyes’s side may have been held to a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in midweek, but 13 points from the last 18 on offer is a good return ahead of the festive programme.
Christian Benteke put Palace ahead in Wednesday’s match at the London Stadium only for Sebastien Haller to hit back for the Hammers.
It means West Ham have now gained five points from losing positions in the Premier League this term, matching their tally from the whole of 2019-20.
That is one of a number of areas United have improved on from last season, and Moyes will now be hoping to keep the feel-good factor alive with another positive result on Monday
Wingers Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been absent for Chelsea in recent matches, yet Lampard has refused to tweak his favoured 4-3-3 formation.
One or both of those players could return on Monday evening, though they are unlikely to slot straight into the starting lineup.
Questions have been asked of summer signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz in recent weeks, so changes can be expected in midfield and attack.
As for West Ham, Moyes has hinted that he will rotate his side a bit to keep things fresh over the festive period.
Jarrod Bowen picked up a knock last time out and may be one of those to drop out of the XI, while left-back Aaron Cresswell is another fitness doubt.
Versatile attacker Michail Antonio has not featured since the end of November, meanwhile, but he has a chance of making the squad for this trip across London.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kovacic, Kante, Mount; Pulisic, Giroud, Werner
West Ham United possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Coufal, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Snodgrass, Benrahma, Fornals; Haller.
Chelsea have lost only one of their last 14 Premier League home games against West Ham, though that was in this corresponding fixture last season.
Indeed, the Hammers won home and away against Chelsea last season and are looking to win three in a row against their London rivals in the top flight for the first time since 1974.
The visitors enter this game in high spirits, even if they were held in midweek, but we can see Chelsea’s squad depth helping them pull through this final pre-Christmas fixture.
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