Image source, Getty Images

Tuchel also says Chelsea's position in the Premier League table still does not leave him feeling certain of Champions League qualification next season.

The Blues are in third place with seven games remaining, four points clear of Tottenham in fifth but only two clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.

However, Tuchel feels the uneasiness that comes with possible failure can have a positive effect.

"I never feel secure in the Premier League, that's just my personal feeling," said the German boss.

"I think it's good - nobody should, never, because feeling secure does not keep you on the edge, and feeling secure can keep you on the thin line to being lazy, or not being fully alert - maybe that's better, as nobody is lazy.

"But no, I never feel safe in any part of the season - and nobody should in the Premier League."

Chelsea lifted the Champions League trophy last year after beating rivals Manchester City in the final in Porto, but were knocked out at the quarter-final stages of this season's competition after a thrilling two-legged tie with Real Madrid.

Tuchel has voiced one possible reason for the poor home form - the pitch.

The German referenced Andreas Christensen's back-pass, which allowed Arsenal to score the opening goal in midweek, as an example.

"The first goal was from Andreas but it was because of a funny bounce," Tuchel said.

"It was awkward to calculate the speed and bounce of the ball. I know everybody's working hard in every department to provide the best level.

"We are struggling a bit with the timing of the renewal [of the grass] this season. This leads to a bit of the problem.

"The pitch wasn't where it should and could be at the beginning of the season."

Arsenal were playing on the same turf, though, right?

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says he cannot explain the recent "fragile" home form which has seen the club lose three successive games at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1993.

Tuchel's side were beaten 4-2 at home to London rivals Arsenal on Wednesday.

The Blues also suffered a 4-1 defeat by Brentford earlier in April and lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

"It's unusual and I don't know what it is," Tuchel said, before West Ham's league visit on Sunday.

"If it was just the one thing, we would switch dressing rooms or take another hotel. But that would maybe be more superstition than anything else," the Chelsea boss added.

"I have no solution but it's also not the level that we want to produce in home games. It's a bit fragile at the moment."

Image source, Getty Images

What is going on with Chelsea, eh?

Last season, once Thomas Tuchel took over it was all smiles, ending with lifting the Champions League trophy. In the summer, they splashed out megabucks on the number nine everyone thought they needed in Romelu Lukaku. A title bid was in the offing, many predicted.

But It has not gone to plan. Their European title defence is done, they're battling to keep hold of third spot, Lukaku has been a bit of a disaster and they're falling apart on home turf.

Today, West Ham rock into town, looking to pour salt into their London rivals' wounds.

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is set to leave the club at the end of the season after failing to agree a new deal.

The 29-year-old centre-back was offered a new contract worth over £200,000 a week which would have made him the best-paid defender in Chelsea’s history.

But it is understood that additional signing-on and agent’s fees demanded by Rudiger’s camp were considered too steep by Chelsea.

The Germany international has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, having joined Chelsea in 2017 for £29m.

The news will come as a blow to manager Thomas Tuchel, who had hoped to keep Rudiger at Chelsea and could also lose centre-back Andreas Christensen this summer.

Like Rudiger, the Danish international’s contract is up this summer and will be allowed to leave on a free transfer with Barcelona agreeing a deal to sign the 26-year-old.

Chelsea’s financial situation has been uncertain since owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last month before being sanctioned by the UK government.

Three bidders are attempting to buy the club from the Russian billionaire for more than £2.5bn with the hope that a preferred bidder can be selected this week.

But it understood that the contract offer for Rudiger was made weeks in advance of sanctions, which mean that player contract deals are on hold until the end of May when the government is expected to issue a special licence.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel makes three changes from the side that lost at Stamford Bridge to Arsenal in midweek.

There is no Reece James in the squad, so in comes Jorginho, with Thiago Silva replacing Malang Sarr in defence. Andreas Christensen is fit to start. It could be a back four.

Up top Kai Havertz replaces Romelu Lukaku.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Christensen, Silva, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Mount, Werner, Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Sarr, Ñíguez, Barkley, Ziyech, Kenedy, Pulisic, Lukaku

Image source, BBC Sport

West Ham boss David Moyes make six changes with Thursday's Europa League semi-final in mind.

Declan Rice is among those to sit on the bench, as is Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Johnson, Dawson, Cresswell, Coufal, Soucek, Noble, Masuaka, Yarmolenko, Fornals, Benrahma

Subs: Areola, Vlasic, Fredericks, Král, Rice, Alese, Lanzini, Bowen, Antonio

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

On that PSG French title win...

It means the club have now equalled the record of 10 league crowns, achieved with four games to spare. The goal in their 1-1 draw that sealed the league was scored by arguably the best footballer of all time, Lionel Messi. Their squad is absolutely packed with world-class talent, bought at huge cost.

But their fans all left early to celebrate outside the stadium instead of with the players because they're not happy they lost in the Champions League. Oh boo hoo.

"That's something I don't understand," midfielder Marco Verratti said. "I know that they were disappointed about Madrid, but at some point you have to move on."

"The atmosphere is a shame," PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal+ at full-time. "Football is our passion. We'll try to have as much fun as possible. It's a shame that won't be with the supporters but we have to deal with it."

Just goes to show, though, money doesn't always equal happiness. In fact, am I wrong to suggest that once that first flush of money-fuelled success has gone - the initial thrill of previously unknown silverware - it's just a downward spiral to entitlement and/or apathy?

Right then, what big stuff has happened to round-up this morning?

Well, Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick has admitted that his side's Champions League hopes have gone after they were beaten at Arsenal.

Our chief football writer, Phil McNulty, has gone all Austrian nun on us by asking how you solve a problem like Fernandes? A flibbertijibbet! A will-o’-the wisp! A clown!

Another of our writers, Chris Bevan, has wondered if Man City face a Jesus dilemma in the summer?

In the Championship, Barnsley have sacked their manager and Forest Green have been promoted to League One.

And in Europe, PSG are French champions, Bayern are German champions, Inter are edging towards being Italian champions, and Real Betis have won the Copa del Rey.

Interesting team news from West Ham. Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio are all on the bench. You would imagine that's very much a Europa League-influenced decision.

Full team news shortly.

Only one change for Burnley from Thursday's win against Southampton and it's a significant one.

Ivory Coast forward Maxwel Cornet misses out - not even making the bench - and is replaced by striker Matej Vydra.

Burnley XI: Pope, Taylor, Cork, Tarkowski, Brownhill, Weghorst, McNeil, Roberts, Rodriguez, Collins, Vydra.

Wolves have not played since the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on 8 April and boss Bruno Lage has made four changes to his starting XI.

Striker Raul Jimenez returns from suspension, with midfielder Leander Dendoncker also back after missing the Newcastle game through illness.

Defenders Nelson Semedo and Roman Saiss step up from the bench.

Max Kilman is injured, while Marcal, Luke Cundle and Francisco Trincao start as substitutes.

Wolves XI: Sá, Jiménez, Boly, Coady, Silva, Jonny, Semedo, Hwang, Saïss, Moutinho, Dendoncker.

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton boss Graham Potter makes three changes from the side that lost at Manchester City as he continues to search for a winning formula at the Amex. Leandro Trossard, who got the winner at Spurs last weekend, is fit to play. Neal Maupay returns to the side and Adam Webster makes his first start in two months.

Brighton XI: Sanchez, Cucurella, Webster, Dunk, Maupay, Mac Allister, Trossard, Mwepy, Welbeck, Caicedo, Veltman.

Subs: Steele, Gross, Lallana, Alzate, March, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson, Sarmiento.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has refreshed the team after Thursday's disappointing defeat at Burnley. He makes six changes, with recalls for Shane Long and Che Adams up front, Nathan Redmond and Nathan Tella in midfield and Mohammed Salisu and Tino Livramento reinstated at the back.

Southampton XI: Forster, Walker-Peters, Romeu, Long, Ward-Prowse, Adams, Redmond, Livramento, Salisu, Tella, Bednarek.

Subs: Caballero, Lyanco, A Armstrong, Perraud, S Armstrong, Broja, Elyounoussi, Diallo, Valery.

BBC Radio 5 Live

We'll be live texting everything throughout the day, bringing you all the best action and reaction.

BBC Radio 5 Live is also here to talk you through the best stuff. Their sport programming gets under way at 12:00 BST, with Steve Crossman on hosting duties.

It is then over to Stamford Bridge for the Chelsea v West Ham game before attentions are turned to Anfield for the big game.

Before all the action and drama at Anfield, though, we have a trio of games at two o'clock to warm you.

At the Amex Stadium, Brighton host Southampton in a mid-table, south-coast clash. At Turf Moor, Burnley go for their second win on the bounce and a place outside the bottom three, with Wolves the visitors. And at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are looking to steady the ship and strengthen third spot against a West Ham side who would love nothing more than sticking the boot into the blues as they pursue European football once again.

The game at 16:30 BST today isn't just a big one for one side. It's a hugely important one for both.

After Manchester City's Jesus-inspired five-star showing against Watford yesterday, Liverpool know only a win will do. Anything but that and the gap at the top starts to look unbridgeable with so few games to go.

Come kick-off time at Anfield, and depending on Burnley's result at home to Wolves, Everton could well be in the bottom three. Just how big a psychological impact will it have on the Toffees to flip them from being the chased to the chaser at this stage of the season?

Image source, Getty Images

The Merseyside derby is a big game whatever the circumstances.

Some Merseyside derbies, though, are a little bit bigger than others.

Today's is one of those.

Image source, Getty Images