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As it happenedended1488837754

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West Ham vs Chelsea as it happened: Eden Hazard and Diego Costa make sure of victory

Follow live update from the Premier League clash at the London Stadium

Luke Brown
Monday 06 March 2017 20:47 GMT
Hazard brings the ball down on the touchline
Hazard brings the ball down on the touchline (Getty)

West Ham United's run-in to their maiden season at the London Stadium is in danger of becoming an anti-climax, but if anything can stir some passion it is a visit from Chelsea.

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What time is kick-off?

The game kicks off at 8.00pm on Monday 6 March.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1.

Form guide

West Ham: DDLLWW​

​Bournemouth: LLLLDL

Team news

West Ham are confident that Andy Carroll can pass a late fitness test to feature against Chelsea. Michail Antonio is meanwhile suspended after being sent off in the 1-1 draw with Watford last weekend while Angelo Ogbonna, Diafra Sakho and Gokhan Tore all remain sidelined.

Chelsea — somewhat intimidatingly for their opponents — boast a completely clean bill of health.

Expected line-ups

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Kouyate, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang; Feghouli, Snodgrass, Lanzini; Carroll.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Hazard; Costa.

It's a big game for...

Carroll scored a goal of the season contender against Crystal Palace (Getty)

Andy Carroll: Who else? Carroll has scored five goals in his last three home London derbies in the Premier League and is one goal away from his 50th strike in the top flight. He has also scored in two of his last three games against Chelsea.

"We have done well without him in the last few games but I'm sure we would have done better with him because he is one of our key players," Bilic said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday evening.

"It will be great to have him on the pitch on Monday and a big blow if he doesn't make it."

Player to watch...

Hazard has been fantastic in recent weeks (Getty)

Eden Hazard: The Belgian is expected to be fit for Chelsea's Premier League clash at West Ham on Monday despite picking up a worrying knock in training.

Hazard was on the receiving end of a kick in training, but head coach Antonio Conte expects the Belgium playmaker to be available at the London Stadium.

Hazard has been in superb form in recent weeks and was particularly influential in the club's recent 3-1 home win against Swansea, completing more dribbles (8) than any other player on the pitch.

Best stat

Antonio Conte has lost two of his three away London derbies in the Premier League, losing out to Arsenal in September and Tottenham in January, while beating Crystal Palace in the other game.

Odds

Courtesy of 888.com

West Ham: 5/1

Chelsea: 5/9

Draw: 3/1

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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Monday night's Premier League offering as Chelsea travel across the capital to the London Stadium to face West Ham. The game kicks off at 8pm but join us for all the build up to the final game of the weekend!

Jack Austin6 March 2017 18:45
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 18:47
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 19:00
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 19:15
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 19:21
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 19:30
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The team sheets are out and the big news is that West Ham name Andy Carroll in their starting XI, he replaces the suspended Michail Antonio up-front for the home team.

It's also interesting to note that Antonio Conte has resisted the urge to bring in Kurt Zouma to beef up Chelsea's back-line and instead sticks with his favoured three-man defence of Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Cahill. Will Carroll be able to exploit that much discussed link between Azpilicueta and Victor Moses in the same way that Spurs managed so effectively the last time Chelsea lost in the Premier League?

Vithushan Ehantharajah6 March 2017 19:35
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Jack Austin6 March 2017 19:45
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Cesc Fabregas and Antonio Conte are sticking very firmly to the party line...

"We don't need results of the other teams to know we need to win every game. Anything can happen," says Cesc Fabregas before Antonio Conte adds:  “This league is very tough. To be in this position, we must be very proud."

Vithushan Ehantharajah6 March 2017 19:47

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