Jarrod Bowen has challenged his West Ham teammates to repay their fans with a victory against Chelsea, following a disappointing loss to Sunderland. Chelsea also seeks improvement after a draw against Crystal Palace. The match is crucial for both teams to kickstart their season. Key players to watch include Bowen for West Ham and Palmer for Chelsea. Opta predicts a Chelsea win with a 54.5% probability.
West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen has issued a rallying cry to his teammates, urging them to repay the unwavering support of the Hammers faithful after a disheartening beginning to their 2025-26 Premier League campaign. The London club is aiming to bounce back from a shocking defeat and provide their fans with a much-needed victory in their upcoming London derby against Chelsea.
Bowen played the entirety of West Ham’s opening-day clash against newly-promoted Sunderland, a match that ended in a painful 3-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light. The loss has intensified the pressure on manager Graham Potter, who is under scrutiny to deliver improved results after a disappointing 14th-placed finish last season, following his appointment in January as the successor to Julen Lopetegui.
The Hammers capitulated in the second half against Sunderland, conceding three goals that left fans stunned. Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor found the net, securing a dream start to the campaign for the Black Cats and compounding West Ham’s woes. The nature of the defeat has prompted Bowen to demand a united response from his side, emphasizing the need to reward the loyalty of their supporters, starting with a strong performance against Chelsea at the London Stadium this Friday.
"I’m obviously fuming," Bowen expressed after the Sunderland debacle. "I thought the goals were quite easy. We’re all disappointed in the manner that we conceded the goals. I’m disappointed and fuming with the start that we’ve had. The fans will be the most disappointed out of everyone. Coming up here, they’re expecting more. We all need to give them more."
First derby day of the season pic.twitter.com/Gmg7rEXNkX
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 20, 2025
Chelsea, too, have experienced a stuttering start to their Premier League season, managing only a goalless draw against Community Shield champions Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Despite a busy summer that saw them lift the revamped Club World Cup and bolster their squad with new additions, the Blues are yet to find their rhythm in the league.
One of Chelsea’s notable acquisitions, Estevao, made his competitive debut for the club after completing his move from Palmeiras this summer. The young talent featured for 37 minutes against Crystal Palace, showcasing his dribbling skills by completing more take-ons (six) than any other player on the pitch. Estevao is excited about his opportunity to play in the Premier League, but he is also keen to approach his adaptation process with patience. "I feel so good," Estevao said. "It’s an incredible experience to be here playing in the Premier League and I’m just so grateful I have been given the opportunity here."
"I have adapted a lot quicker than I thought. I would like to thank the manager, the coaching staff and all my new team-mates. They have all helped me so much and given everything to me since I arrived to make me feel comfortable and give me confidence. Everyone has helped me adapt to the game, but also the new conditions here. I’m enjoying every minute and I’m not trying to make things happen faster. I’m just trying to take it day by day and enjoy it as much as I can."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen
Bowen, West Ham’s leading scorer last season with 13 goals, has a knack for performing in London derbies. He has scored three times in his previous four Premier League appearances against London rivals, finding the net in his last two matches against Arsenal and Tottenham. Only a select few West Ham players have managed to score in three consecutive derby appearances in the competition, with Michail Antonio being the most recent to achieve this feat in 2019.
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Despite a quiet outing against Crystal Palace, Cole Palmer remains Chelsea’s most significant attacking threat. Last season, he contributed 15 goals and eight assists in the league, while also registering five direct goal contributions (three goals, two assists) at the Club World Cup. Palmer will be eager to open his account for the 2025-26 season at the London Stadium.
MATCH PREDICTION – CHELSEA WIN
West Ham's struggles in starting league campaigns are well-documented. They have a history of losing their opening two matches, with only Southampton having a worse record in the Premier League era. While West Ham have enjoyed some success against Chelsea at home in recent years, winning four of their last eight Premier League encounters at the London Stadium, they did suffer a 3-0 defeat in the same fixture last season. Consecutive home league defeats to Chelsea last occurred in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
Under Graham Potter, West Ham have won just two of their nine home Premier League matches, highlighting their struggles at the London Stadium. No West Ham manager has ever won fewer than 10 points in their first 10 home games in the competition, a record that Potter is in danger of breaking.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have dominated their recent meetings with West Ham, winning five of their last seven Premier League encounters. The Blues have an impressive overall record against the Hammers, with 32 wins in the competition. They have also been solid defensively, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time since February 2023.
However, Chelsea will be aiming to sharpen their attacking edge after firing blanks against Crystal Palace. The Blues had 19 shots without scoring in their last match, and they haven’t failed to score in their opening two league matches of a campaign since 1995-96.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham – 22.4%
Draw – 23.2%
Chelsea – 54.5%