Chelsea are back in Premier League action this weekend traveling to Premier League newcomers West Brom.
In the 5.30pm televised game, The Blues will be looking to improve on their last result losing 2-0 to league champions Liverpool.
Whilst West Brom lost their last match 3-0 against Leicester City and will be seeking improvements on that.
Frank Lampard has been addressing the press ahead of the game this lunchtime and delivering the latest team and injury news.
The question on everyone’s lips is whether new signing Edouard Mendy will be getting the nod over Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero, or will he even be added to the squad yet having only been confirmed yesterday?
We know that he won’t be starting at least, confirmed by Lampard just now
West Bromwich Albion will be looking to get off the mark with their first Premier League points of the season when they take on Chelsea at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
The Baggies have lost their first two games back in the top flight and were knocked out of the EFL Cup in midweek, whereas Chelsea have won and lost their opening two league games.
Frank Lampard admitted that last week’s 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a “reality check” for his side, showing how far Chelsea still have to go to challenge for the title.
The Blues continued their spending spree on Thursday by bringing in Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who will likely replace calamity keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.
It is now a case of Lampard fitting his new recruits into the side, with Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva making their debuts in the win over Barnsley and fellow newbie Kai Havertz scoring a hat-trick.
That midweek EFL Cup victory gave Chelsea a chance to really flex their muscles, but three points are needed this weekend if they are to put the Liverpool loss behind them.
Lampard’s men, who started the season with a 3-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, have a good record against the Baggies down the years, winning each of their last three away games.
Albion have not exactly made a fast start to the season, losing 3-0 to Leicester City and 5-2 to Everton, as well as being knocked out of the EFL Cup on penalties by Brentford.
Taking their last top-flight campaign into the equation, West Brom have won just 11 points from the last 48 available, with all of these points being earned in a six-game spell.
The eight goals Albion have conceded so far this term is the most of any Premier League side, and the most they have ever shipped in the first two games of a league campaign.
Facing the likes of Havertz, Timo Werner and co. this weekend is the last thing Slaven Bilic will want, then, with his side already rooted to the foot of the division.
The good news for West Brom is that there is still plenty of time to turn things around. Another heavy loss here, though, and the pressure will already be on head coach Bilic.
West Bromwich Albion Premier League form: LL
West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions): LLL
Chelsea Premier League form: WL
Chelsea form (all competitions): WLW
West Brom vs Chelsea: last five results
West Brom
22 Sep LC West Brom 2 Brentford 2 L*
19 Sep PL Everton 5 West Brom 2 L
16 Sep LC West Brom 3 Harrogate Town 0 W
13 Sep PL West Brom 0 Leicester 3 L
22 Jul CH West Brom 2 QPR 2 D
*Brentford won 5-4 on penalties
Chelsea
23 Sep LC Chelsea 6 Barnsley 0 W
20 Sep PL Chelsea 0 Liverpool 2 L
14 Sep PL Brighton 1 Chelsea 3 W
8 Aug CL Bayern Munich 4 Chelsea 1 L
1 Aug FAC Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 L
LC League Cup PL Premier League CH Championship CL Champions League FAC FA Cup
Chelsea Team News and injury Updates
Hakim Ziyech has still yet to make his debut for Chelsea because of an injury sustained in pre-season, while Christian Pulisic remains doubtful.
The good news for Lampard is that Silva came through his debut unscathed and is in line to make his Premier League bow, and that could also be the case for new arrival Mendy.
However, Mendy has to pass coronavirus medical checks before he can be considered for selection, so Willy Caballero may get the nod for this one.
Chilwell got an assist to his name on his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt and, fitness depending, could retain his place at left-back at The Hawthorns.
As for the hosts, Kieran Gibbs is suspended following his red card against Everton and is expected to be replaced at left-back by Conor Townsend.
Hal Robson-Kanu scored twice in West Brom’s 2-2 draw with Brentford but was replaced late on due to what Bilic described as “tightness”, rendering him doubtful for this match.
Kamil Grosicki, Ahmed Hegazi and Kenneth Zohore are also unlikely to play any part for the Baggies because of injury problems.
It could be an emotional first game back in the Premier League for Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic, who joined Albion on a short-term deal this week.
West Brom team news
Forwards Kamil Grosicki and Kenneth Zohore, and defender Ahmend Hegazi remain absent through injury, while Hal Robson-Kanu is a doubt after coming off as a precaution after scoring two penalties in the EFL Cup defeat by Brentford. Conor Townsend is expected to deputise for the suspended Gibbs, and Branislav Ivanovic may come in for Kyle Bartley in central defence against his former club.
West Brom predicted line-up (5-4-1): Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic, O’Shea, Townsend; Pereira, Sawyers, Livermore, Diangana; Robinson.
Chelsea team news
Willy Caballero is expected to start in goal, with new signing Edouard Mendy unlikely to have passed the necessary coronavirus checks in time for this match. Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva should make their first Premier League appearances for the club after debuts in the EFL Cup against Barnsley. Andreas Christensen is suspended following his red card against Liverpool. Fellow summer arrival Hakim Ziyech is still a way off being ready, while Christian Pulisic also has further work to do before he can come back from the hamstring injury he sustained in the FA Cup final.
Chelsea predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Caballero; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Mount, Havertz, Werner; Abraham.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic, O’Shea, Townsend; Pereira, Sawyers, Livermore, Diangana; Robinson
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Caballero; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Mount, Havertz, Werner; Abraham
Predictions West Bromwich Albion 1-3 Chelsea
Chelsea have lost three of their last seven away Premier League games at newly-promoted sides, including their most recent such clash at Sheffield United in July last season.
That is not the best of returns, and the Blues did taste defeat in their last league outing, but we cannot see past a comfortable away victory on Saturday.
West Brom vs Chelsea kick-off time
The match starts at 5.30pm UK time on Saturday 26 September.
West Brom vs Chelsea pre-match press conference
Frank Lampard will be conducting his pre-match press conference via video link at 1.30pm tomorrow (Friday) and you can watch it live on the 5th Stand App and this website.
West Brom vs Chelsea on TV
The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. For info on broadcasts in other countries, check the Premier League’s guide.
Chelsea TV’s matchday programming is on the 5th Stand, Facebook Live and our official YouTube channel with three live shows: pre-match (starting 75 minutes before kick-off), half-time and post match.
Features this week include analysis on a player pre-match, the first look at the teamsheets at 4.30pm sharp, exclusive interviews and Chelsea-oriented discussion from the regulars.