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Round 24 of the Premier League season presents some eye-catching games, with the standout fixtures broadcast on TV and the leading live streaming apps. Followers of the beautiful game finish January on a high, with five matches scheduled from the top-flight of English football. Leaders Arsenal head to Elland Road before Liverpool host Newcastle.
The focus of this article is on an exciting London derby from Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea line up against West Ham United. The Blues find themselves in the race for a top-four finish following back-to-back wins. The Hammers are much further down the pecking order, stuck in the relegation zone, but they also won their last couple.
Bookmakers offer a long list of pre-match betting markets on Chelsea v West Ham. Bettors can predict the winning team, call the number of goals scored, or wager on which player will get the opener. There’s a lot to consider. Need a little help? Trusted football betting writer Frank Monkhouse offers his Chelsea v West Ham predictions, best bets, and odds.
Chelsea v West Ham tips
Over 2.5 goals @ 8/15 (bet365)
Palmer to score @ 6/5 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Match winner - Chelsea
We start with a bet on the match-winner, taking Chelsea to make home advantage count. The locals start fifth in the table, with their stats for the season showing 10 wins, seven draws, and six defeats. Chelsea have scored 39 goals and conceded 25, meaning Liam Rosenior’s new recruits have hit more than third-placed Aston Villa at this stage. Four wins in their last four starts in all competitions makes them a smart bet.
West Ham United make the short journey from East London to South West, occupying one of the three relegation places. They're a team playing under real pressure with a nervousness in defence, conceding eight goals in five games this month. Despite their worries, West Ham took six points from their last two Premier League outings, winning at Spurs in their last road trip.
Despite West Ham’s improved form this year, we’re taking Chelsea to make the most of their home-field advantage. They beat Brentford 2-0 when last appearing at the bridge, and followed a timely win with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The head-to-head stats show Chelsea thrashed West Ham United 5-1 earlier this season. Following an impressive away victory in Naples on Wednesday, we support a home win at odds that'll work well in weekend multiples.
Tip: Chelsea win @ 1/2 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Chelsea beat West Ham, your wager wins.
Total goals - over 2.5
We move into the totals markets for our second pick, taking over 2.5 goals. When following this bet, the winning team and scorers aren’t important. All you’re concerned about is that the number of goals scored by both teams combined is more than two. A 3-0 home win pays the same as a 2-2 draw. You can cheer every promising attack and goal scored in London.
Again, the head-to-head stats give followers reason to smile. A bet on over 2.5 goals landed when Chelsea beat West Ham 5-1 away from home earlier this season. It was also the smart approach in each of the last five meetings. That run consists of 5-1, 2-1, 3-0, and 5-0 wins for Chelsea, and a 3-1 win for West Ham in the summer of 2023. We’re after more goals.
Adding Chelsea’s recent Premier League results further strengthens our argument. Chelsea beat Palace 3-1, lost 3-2 to Arsenal, and 2-1 to Fulham. They also thrashed Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup 3rd round this month. In January, West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1, Spurs 2-1, and QPR 2-1. They lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest and 3-0 at bottom club Wolves.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/15 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You want to see three or more goals scored in this match.
Anytime scorer - Cole Palmer
If you’re looking for a bet at higher odds to enjoy as you follow Chelsea v West Ham live on TV, our third prediction may appeal. We’re backing Cole Palmer to find the net. You can aim higher and take the Englishman in the first goalscorer market, but we’re happy with the safety net of the anytime scorer option. If Palmer hits the net, you’ll pocket a profit.
Returning to the head-to-head, we see that Palmer was on target when Chelsea beat West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium last season. Digging deeper, Cole has scored in two of Chelsea’s last four meetings with West Ham. He also found the net in a 2-0 home win over Brentford here last weekend. Palmer scored from the penalty spot with 76 minutes played.
In an injury-hit season, Palmer missed all of October and November. He is back approaching full fitness and match-sharpness, with last weekend’s goal the fifth from Palmer this term. He netted against Brentford, Bayern Munich, Everton, Bournemouth, and again versus the Bees. Stick with Palmer and back him to score as a single or add him to your accumulators.
Tip: Palmer to score @ 6/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Cole Palmer must score against West Ham to win this bet.
Chelsea v West Ham
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.