The West Ham lineup that should start against Chelsea

After a football week like no other, it’s all to play for again in the race for a top four finish when West Ham take on Chelsea at the London Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League.

The Hammers’ journey to becoming Champions League qualification contenders has been one of the stories of the 2020/21 season, but their blissful ride hit an unexpected bump in the road last Saturday when David Moyes’s side inexplicably conceded three awful goals in a 3-2 defeat away at Newcastle.

Luckily, they weren’t the only ones to slip up – Chelsea, who currently sit fourth on goal difference – laboured to a goalless draw with Brighton in midweek, while Liverpool slipped up against entertainers Leeds at Elland Road.

For a huge game against Thomas Tuchel’s side, West Ham are without influential trio Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Arthur Masuaku through injury, while they are also likely to be without Aaron Cresswell. Craig Dawson is suspended, meanwhile, after being sent off for two bookable offences at St James’ Park.

Here’s 90min’s thoughts on how West Ham should line up in their absence.

Lukasz Fabianski (GK) – Made a horrendous gaffe against Newcastle which must be cast aside from his mind straight away. Could be a busy man if Chelsea have as much as possession as they’re expected to.

Fabian Balbuena (CB) – Craig Dawson’s suspension and Aaron Cresswell’s injury problems make the Paraguayan a likely starter.

Issa Diop (CB) – Couldn’t untangle his legs to prevent a comedic own goal against Newcastle but did hit back with a fine second-half header at the right end.

Angelo Ogbonna (CB) – Not the return he’d have wanted to the side against Newcastle, looking off the pace and a bit ragged. Ogbonna has a huge leadership role to play between now and the end of the season.

Vladimir Coufal (RWB) – Seems to be tailing off a little bit form-wise, but that’s hardly unexpected given how good Coufal has been throughout the campaign. Could have his hands full defensively.

Tomas Soucek (CM) – Doesn’t have the same freedom to roam forward with Declan Rice missing from the side – highlighting just how important England’s star defensive midfielder is.

Mark Noble (CM) – May not have the physical capabilities that he once had but Noble’s understanding and reading of the game is what allows him to continue competing at the top level. Must prepare to run his socks off against a team who love to keep the ball.

Ben Johnson (LWB) – A little naive in his defending of Joe Willock’s Newcastle winner but is still learning at this level. Has plenty to offer going forward which West Ham must look to exploit.

Jarrod Bowen (RW) – Expect plenty of positional interchanging from West Ham’s front three and dozens of balls in behind for Bowen to chase.

Jesse Lingard (CF) – May find himself operating from the left, depending on how Moyes chooses to set up. Is nine-goal Lingard the most in-form Premier League player right now? Probably.

Pablo Fornals (LW) – A tenacious hard worker who will need his best running boots on. Lacks end product at times but Fornals is key to West Ham’s fluidity in the final third.