90min

Chelsea vs West Brom preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

By Daniel Feliciano

West Brom and Chelsea played out a 3-3 draw in the autumn
West Brom and Chelsea played out a 3-3 draw in the autumn / LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/Getty Images
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Chelsea look to maintain their place in the top four when they take on relegation-battling West Brom at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

The two sides met earlier in the campaign with two different managers in charge, as Slaven Bilic's Baggies blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Frank Lampard's Blues.

Chelsea have been flying under Thomas Tuchel since his appointment in January, winning ten of their 14 games together and conceding only twice. They've tended to dominate possession but have struggled to score freely.

Sam Allardyce has failed to get much from his West Brom side and have won just twice since he took over. They've been much harder to beat in recent weeks though, losing just two of their last six and conceding only three goals.

West Brom currently sit in the relegation zone ten points from safety with just nine games to play, making this and every other game this season a must-win affair. Here's 90min's preview of this important game at both ends of the Premier League table.

Where to watch

When is the match? Saturday 3 April
What time is kick-off? 12:30 GMT+1
Where is it being played? Stamford Bridge
TV Channel: BT Sport 1 (UK)
Referee: David Coote
VAR: Chris Kavanagh

Team news

Following the international break, Chelsea will be hopeful of welcoming Thiago Silva and Tammy Abraham back into the squad following injury. N'Golo Kante withdrew from the France squad last week with a hamstring problem, while Callum Hudson-Odoi missed England Under-21's last two group games in the European Championships with a shoulder problem.

Allardyce will be without midfielder Conor Gallagher as part of the terms of his loan from Chelsea. Robert Snodgrass is likely to come into midfield in his place, with Ainsley Maitland-NIles to move more centrally, while Kieran Gibbs is also a doubt.

Conor Gallagher
Gallagher will miss the game as part of his loan agreement / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Predicted lineups

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Havertz, Ziyech.

West Brom: Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Snodgrass, Maitland-Niles, Yokuslu, Pereira, Phillips; Diagne.

Recent form

Chelsea

Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United (21/3)
Chelsea 2-0 Atletico Madrid (17/3)
Leeds 0-0 Chelsea (13/3)
Chelsea 2-0 Everton (8/3)
Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea (4/3)

Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech made it two goals in two games last time out / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

West Brom

Crystal Palace 1-0 West Brom (13/3)
West Brom 0-0 Newcastle (7/3)
West Brom 0-1 Everton (4/3)
West Brom 1-0 Brighton (27/2)
Burnley 0-0 West Brom (20/2)

Prediction

We're getting to the business end of the season now and both teams need to win this game to keep their ambitions alive, albeit they both have very different ambitions.

Chelsea have been excellent in recent weeks but have struggled to be the most efficient team in front of goal, while West Brom have shored up defensively but can't score for the life of them. It would be hard to see either team scoring a truck load in this game, but if anyone is going to do so then it would be the Blues.

Mason Mount
Chelsea should claim a victory once more / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

The organisation and possession that Tuchel's side play with will see them generate more opportunities and with the far greater quality in their playing squad, they should be able to come away with a relatively comfortable win.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Brom

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