Premier League 2019/20: West Ham vs Chelsea – tactical analysis

An in-form Chelsea side recently visited West Ham at London Stadium in a London derby between two clubs at opposite ends of the Premier League table. The Hammers had lost five of their last six matches and are in serious threat of relegation. The Blues meanwhile had won all three matches in all competitions since the return of football, including victories against Manchester City in the Premier League and Leicester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals. This tactical analysis will examine the stratagems of both sides and dissect how the hosts outplayed the opposition in various aspects of the game.

Lineups

West Ham manager David Moyes set up his team in their common 4-2-3-1/4-5-1 formation. The backline of Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, and Aaron Cresswell has been the side’s most common back four personnel. With Mark Noble out on a precautionary measure due to injury, the midfield five consisted of Declan Rice and Tomáš Souček behind Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, and Manuel Lanzini. Michail Antonio started at striker.

Chelsea came out in a strong starting eleven. César Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rüdiger, and Marcos Alonso formed the back four behind a midfield three of Ross Barkley, N’Golo Kanté, and Mateo Kovačić. The club’s top three goalscorers- Tammy Abraham, Willian, and Christian Pulišić- filled out the attack.