Chelsea vs West Ham United
Chelsea will be looking to maintain their top position in the Premier LeagueReuters

Chelsea play hosts to London rivals West Ham United on Boxing Day as they look to maintain their top position in the Premier League.

The Blues despite playing very well and maintaining their top position in the Premier League will be worried to see defending English champions Manchester City right on their heels.

As only three points separate the two sides, Chelsea will be desperate to register a win against West Ham United as a draw or a defeat would see the Blues lead further diminish.

Although the Blues are expected to beat West Ham on Friday considering the sheer strength of their squad, Sam Allardyce's side will certainly not prove to be pushovers as they have also been doing well in the Premier League this season.

And Mourinho says that he is expecting a good contest on Boxing Day considering both sides have become better this season.

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"I think Chelsea deserve to be top of the league," the Portuguese told Chelsea's official website. "After us, for West Ham to be fourth, for a team that everybody was expecting to be fighting for survival, I think is a fantastic achievement. Really, very good.'

"Both teams are different from last season," added the former Porto boss. "We are a better team, we have more creativity, more goals, more attacking dynamic."

"West Ham are also a better team. They are not just a team who don't want to concede, they also try to score goals, so the game will be very difficult. Both teams have the capacity now to produce a completely different game."

Meanwhile West Ham will also be hoping to continue their good form in the Premier League despite them being up against leaders Chelsea on Boxing Day.

After their 1-2 defeat to Everton in the last week of November, the Hammers have been in terrific form, recording four wins in their last five games.

However, the Hammers will be thoroughly tested on Boxing Day as the Blues are a much stronger opponent compared to sides they faced in their last five fixtures.

And West Ham boss Sam Allardyce despite saying that his side have "improved tremendously", admits that Mourinho's Blues will be a very formidable opponent on Friday.

"We have obviously improved tremendously from where we were, but that doesn;t make it any easier for us playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge because of the force that they are, and because of the manager that he is - he is probably the best working club manager in the world at the minute on his track record. I don't think there is any doubt about that," Allardyce told West Ham's official website.

Where to Watch Live

The match is scheduled for a 12.45 pm GMT (6.15 pm IST, 7.45 am ET) start with Live coverage in India will be on Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD2. The EPL match can also be watched via live streaming online by viewers in India on StarSports.com.

Live coverage on TV in the UK will be on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD, while viewers can also live stream the action on  Sky Sports Online Player. Watch the game live in the US onNBCSN, while the 90 minutes of action can also be live streamed online on NBC Sports Extra.

Australia viewers can watch the game on Fox Sports or live stream the action on Fox Sports On Demand, while viewers in Canada can do the same on TSN or TSN Go.

Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch the match on Bein Sports Arabia or via Live Streaming online courtesy Bein Sports Connect, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do the same on SuperSport or SuperSport online.

Probable Lineups:

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa

West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Valencia, Carroll