Julen Lopetegui may have to reconsider his use of Edson Alvarez in midfield as West Ham prepare to face Chelsea on Saturday, 21 September.
The Mexican international has had a sluggish start to the 2024/25 season, having only recently returned from injury in the match against Crystal Palace, though he has started every game since.
Alvarez played 82 minutes alongside Guido Rodriguez in the 2-1 win against Fulham, but his performance raised eyebrows. There’s now speculation that Lopetegui might deploy Rodriguez alone in midfield for the upcoming clash against Chelsea.
Alvarez’s form has been questioned, with London World writing on 15 September: “Not the midfielder’s finest day. Sloppy early on and didn’t really manage to shake that despite enthusiasm – somewhat of a bull in a china shop.
A misplaced pass early on presented Pereira with a decent opportunity and Alvarez was ghosted past by Smith-Rowe ahead of Jimenez’s goal. Booked in the second half for a nasty challenge on Joachim Andersen.”
Alvarez’s potential omission ahead of the Chelsea fixture is now being discussed, particularly as West Ham look to claim their second win of the Premier League campaign.
His recent return from injury is a concern, as he had not played competitive football since June, when he was forced off after 30 minutes in an international match against Jamaica.
Known for his aggressive style and frequent bookings, Alvarez picked up another yellow card at Craven Cottage. However, his performance was notably below par, and his statistics from the match are worrying:
Alvarez completed none of his dribble attempts, only 25 per cent of his long balls, and managed to win just 54 per cent of his ground duels and 50 per cent of his aerial duels, according to FotMob. Moreover, he committed three fouls, was dispossessed twice, and missed 40 per cent of his tackles.
Describing him as a “bull in a china shop” or “running around like a headless chicken” may not be far off, given his current form.
Lopetegui faces a tough decision, especially with Alvarez’s similarly poor showing against Manchester City, where he completed zero tackles and won just 33 per cent of his ground duels.
Having already made bold decisions, like dropping Lucas Paqueta against Fulham, Lopetegui has proven he’s willing to make tough calls. Alvarez will need to be concerned about his starting place ahead of such a crucial game.