Nkunku's Return, Colwill's Position, Mudryk's New Role, Gilchrist to Start – Predicted Chelsea Lineup vs West Ham

Chelsea is back in Premier League action this afternoon as they host West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. This comes less than 72 hours after the Blues secured a 2-0 victory over their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea's goals in that match came from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson, with the win marking a welcome return to form for Mauricio Pochettino's side. Following the Spurs game, Pochettino expressed that it was the happiest he had been this season with Chelsea's performance.

However, West Ham poses a different challenge compared to Tottenham. David Moyes' side is known for its physicality and competitiveness, characteristics that Chelsea will need to match or exceed if they are to secure another win. With a short turnaround between fixtures, Pochettino has some tough choices to make regarding his starting lineup.

Here's Bobby Vincent's prediction for Chelsea's lineup against West Ham:

Goalkeeper: Djordje Petrovic, who kept a clean sheet against Tottenham, will likely retain his spot. Although Spurs didn't heavily test him, the Serbian goalkeeper dealt with a few dangerous crosses well, contributing to the shutout.

Defenders:

• Right-Back: Lewis Gilchrist, the Cobham graduate, had an impressive performance against Tottenham. His strong defensive display kept Son Heung-min quiet, earning him a likely starting role again on the right side.
• Centre-Backs: Trevoh Chalobah has been a standout in Chelsea's defense, proving his consistency since returning from injury. Alongside him, Benoît Badiashile has shown significant improvement over the last two matches, building on his solid performance against Aston Villa with another good showing against Tottenham. Levi Colwill, who is close to returning, might not start but could be included in the squad.
• Left-Back: Marc Cucurella played in a slightly unconventional role against Tottenham, occasionally tucking into a more central position while Chelsea had possession. He has excelled in this approach, showing his versatility and contributing to Chelsea's stability at the back.

The predicted lineup reflects Chelsea's recent form and the need for stability while facing a physically robust West Ham team. If Chelsea can replicate the intensity and performance from their last game, they have a good chance of achieving back-to-back victories in the Premier League.