Sonia Bompastor has unveiled her first starting lineup of 2026, featuring a notable return for goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who has been out of action for two months due to injury. Hampton replaces Livia Peng for today’s match against West Ham.
In a press conference held on Friday, Bompastor confirmed the absences of key players Aggie Beever-Jones and Keira Walsh for today’s clash. This paved the way for Erin Cuthbert’s return to the starting eleven alongside fellow midfielder Sjoeke Nusken, marking her comeback after missing the team’s recent 9-1 triumph over Liverpool in the Women’s League Cup prior to the winter break.
In addition to Cuthbert’s return, attackers Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson have joined the lineup due to Beever-Jones’s absence, while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd remains a key player after her impressive performance in the previous match, where she scored a hat-trick.
The complete Chelsea lineup for today includes Hampton, Carpenter, Bright (c), Buurman, Girma, Nusken, Cuthbert, James, Thompson, Baltimore, and Rytting Kaneryd. The substitutes list features Peng, Spencer, Reiten, Kaptein, Kerr, Bronze, Potter, Sarwie, and Shooter.
This revamped lineup demonstrates Bompastor’s strategic adjustments as Chelsea looks to maintain momentum in their campaign, and supporters will be eager to see how these changes impact their performance against West Ham.