Chelsea and West Ham have often been two London clubs on very different ends of the Premier League table, but David Moyes has managed to change all of that in two seasons for the Irons.
A UEFA Europa League semi-final awaits the Hammers later this month, with West Ham having a strong chance of winning European silverware for the first time this century if they can beat Eintracht Frankfurt and one of Rangers or RB Leipzig in the final.
Whilst Europe is the sole focus for West Ham in the coming weeks, Moyes’ side will for now be eyeing another win against Chelsea, with top-four still a possibility for the east London club if they can regain their Premier League form in the final matches of the season.
And this Sunday will see the two clubs face off at Stamford Bridge, and here at HITC Sport, we take a crack at what a combined Chelsea and West Ham XI could look like based on form this season.
GK – Edouard Mendy
Both Chelsea and West Ham have top goalkeepers in Edouard Mendy and Lukasz Fabianski, yet there’s no denying that the Senegal international is one of the top shot-stoppers in world football and a key player for the Blues.
Since joining last summer, Mendy has been one of Chelsea’s best players, and although the keeper had a rare off-day against West Ham earlier in the season, the 30-year-old will be eager to perform this weekend against the Irons.
RB – Reece James
English right-backs have taken a new form of their own in recent years, and this campaign has seen Reece James elevate his game to a whole new level, with the defender arguably Chelsea’s most important player this campaign.
The Blues are a different side when the England international is in the squad, and James’ impressive number of goals and assists this season have been crucial to Chelsea’s top-four push and their runs to both the League Cup and FA Cup finals.
CB – Antonio Rudiger
Thomas Tuchel’s appointment last year has been transformative for Chelsea, and one player who has improved greatly under the former PSG manager is Antonio Rudiger, who just like James, could make a case for being the Blues’ key player this year.
Monstrous displays at the back and some big goals have pushed some to put Rudiger on the same level as Virgil van Dijk or Ruben Dias in the terms of quality, and the German’s performances this season earn the centre-back a place in the XI.
CB – Thiago Silva
It might be unfair to keep Craig Dawson out of this XI based on the veteran defender’s displays in recent weeks, but there’s no denying that Thiago Silva has been just as impressive as his West Ham counterpart this season.
The 37-year-old defender has been a mountain for Chelsea since joining from PSG in 2021, and Silva’s defensive awareness and quality have saved the west London side numerous points this season.
LB – Aaron Cresswell
The appointment of Moyes at West Ham has seen players who were once deemed by fans as disposable turned into cornerstones for the club, and Aaron Cresswell is the best example of such a transformation.
The Hammers left-back has been nothing short of brilliant this season, and Cresswell’s dead-ball deliveries from both corners and free-kicks have made West Ham a potent threat from set-piece opportunities.
CM – Mateo Kovacic
The first rule of making any combined XI involving Chelsea is to include N’Golo Kante in the midfield. However, given the French international’s performances this season and just how good Mateo Kovacic has been, it’s hard not to ignore the Croatian wizard.
The former Real Madrid star has been a consistent performer whenever given the chance in midfield, and Kovacic’s two goals and five assists are impressive return for a player where goal contributions are not part of their main game.
CM – Declan Rice
As with Cresswell, Declan Rice has come leaps and bounds during Moyes’ time as West Ham manager, and with the Irons now valuing their star midfielder at a reported £150m, it is clear how highly the east London side rate the England international.
Building his game to become a more complete midfielder, Rice’s form has been instrumental to West Ham’s success on the pitch, so much so that Chelsea could look to sign their former academy player in the coming years.
RM – Jarrod Bowen
What is there to say about Jarrod Bowen that hasn’t been said already? The former Hull City star has been nothing short of a phenom for West Ham this season, and an England call-up is surely on the horizon for the winger.
With double digits in both goals and assists this season, Bowen will be a deadly threat for Chelsea this weekend, and the 25-year-old will once again be looking to perform on the biggest of stages at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.
CAM – Mason Mount
Despite some interesting discourse on social media amongst a handful of Chelsea fans, Mason Mount has been quietly brilliant this season for the Blues, with the England international, just like Bowen, hitting 10+ goals and assists in all competitions.
On course for his best season yet as a professional, Mount will be the poster boy for the Blues in the post-Roman Abramovich era of the club, and for Chelsea fans, they are lucky to have a golden talent like the 23-year-old on their hands.
LM – Kai Havertz
Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma are extremely unlucky to miss out on this XI, but in the end, Kai Havertz has the edge over the West Ham duo based on how the German has single-handily won matches for the Blues this season.
With Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku struggling in Tuchel’s system, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has taken up the mantle as Chelsea’s leading attacker, and for most of the season, it is paying off.
ST – Michail Antonio
As mentioned, Chelsea’s natural strikers have struggled this season, whilst Michail Antonio has continued to impress as West Ham’s focal point in the attack, with the Jamaican international enjoying another solid year for the Irons.
Whilst consistency has not been Antonio’s strong suit, there’s no denying that the 30-year-old plays a crucial role in West Ham’s system, with the former Nottingham Forest star always causing problems for opponents due to his unique style of play.
Chelsea/West Ham combined XI (4-2-3-1): Mendy; James, Rudiger, Silva, Cresswell; Kante, Rice; Bowen, Mount, Havertz; Antonio
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