TEAM NEWS: Didier Drogba starts for Chelsea against West Ham as Fernando Torres continues on bench

Didier Drogba, Chelsea

Related Links

Teams

Players

Didier Drogba is once again preferred to Fernando Torres as Carlo Ancelotti sticks to the 4-3-3 formation which has served his side well in recent weeks.

Chelsea have begun to hit form at the right time and are still in the hunt for the Premier League title.

They make one change from Tuesday’s night 3-1 victory over Birmingham, with Branislav Ivanovic coming in for Paulo Ferreira at right-back as they look to keep the pressure on Manchester United who won 1-0 at home to Everton earlier.

West Ham have rung the changes as they look to avoid slipping even further away from safety.

Danny Gabbidon comes into the cente of defence replacing Matthew Upson who doesn’t even make the bench.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Spector comes in for Gary O’Neil who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury and manager Avram Grant has swapped his attacking players around with Freddie Sears and Demba Ba coming in for Robbie Keane and Victor Obinna.

West Ham will go to Stamford Bridge without captain and Footballer of the Year Scott Parker, who is still missing with an Achilles injury.

It is an attacking line-up front Grant, who has former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole up front with Ba in a 4-4-2 formation, as he seeks to end his side’s poor run of form which has seen them lose their last three matches and concede nine goals in the process.

With a daunting trip to Manchester City next up for the Hammers, they will look to try and upset the odds at Stamford Bridge and will be buoyed by other results earlier today.

A win will see them move out of the relegation zone whilst a home victory will see them consolidate second place over Arsenal.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Essien, Lampard; Kalou, Drogba, Malouda

Subs: Turnbull, Torres, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Fereira, Bertrand, Anelka

West Ham starting XI: Green; Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Da Costa, Bridge; Noble, Spector, Hitzlsperger Sears; Ba, Cole

Subs: Boffin, Tomkins, Boa Morte, Kovac, Piquionne, Obinna, Keane

More to follow…