The fight for the last qualifying spot for European competitions in the Premier League is becoming increasingly fierce. On one end, West Ham was in 13th place with 30 points, seeking to climb the table with eight victories, six draws, and ten defeats.
On the other hand, Edson Álvarez, a Mexican player, left his fans worried by not participating in the match between West Ham and Chelsea, which closed matchday 24. Álvarez had been a starter in the last six matches with his team, under the orders of Graham Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui in early January.
In the previous match, Álvarez had provided a crucial assist that led to his team's equalizer. Therefore, he was expected to participate in the subsequent match. However, surprisingly, he was not called up due to an injury, as reported by the club in an official statement. Although the severity or type of injury was not specified, it was anticipated that the player would be absent from the pitch for an indefinite period.
Regarding the teams, Chelsea arrived at the match in sixth place in the table with 40 points, having won 11 matches, drawn seven, and lost six, while West Ham sought to climb positions in search of qualifying for European competitions.
