Julen Lopetegui may need to reconsider playing Edson Alvarez in midfield if West Ham hopes to secure a positive result against Chelsea on Saturday (September 21).
The Mexican international has had a shaky start to the 2024/25 season, only returning from injury against Crystal Palace and starting every match since. Although he played 82 minutes against Fulham alongside Guido Rodriguez, Lopetegui might have to deploy Rodriguez alone against Chelsea.
London World criticized Alvarez’s performance, stating, “It wasn’t his best day. He was sloppy early on and struggled to recover despite his enthusiasm—more of a bull in a china shop.” Alvarez’s early misplaced pass led to a chance for Pereira, and he was easily bypassed by Smith-Rowe before Jimenez’s goal. He also received a yellow card in the second half for a foul on Joachim Andersen.
Lopetegui will want to avoid repeating those mistakes as they face Enzo Maresca’s team, aiming for their second Premier League win. Prior to his return, Alvarez hadn’t played since June, when he was substituted after 30 minutes in an international match against Jamaica.
Known for his tendency to earn yellow cards, Alvarez’s recent performance raised concerns. He completed none of his dribbles, only 25% of his long passes, and won 54% of ground duels and 50% of aerial duels. Additionally, he committed three fouls, was dispossessed twice, and missed 40% of his tackles. These statistics paint a concerning picture for his performance.
Given his prior display against Manchester City—where he had zero tackle completion and only 33% ground duels won—Lopetegui faces a significant risk in retaining Alvarez. However, after previously dropping Lucas Paqueta against Fulham, it’s clear Lopetegui isn’t afraid to make tough decisions, which could leave Alvarez vulnerable.
In other West Ham news, discussions between Julen Lopetegui and Danny Ings have surfaced ahead of the Fulham match.
