West Ham welcome Chelsea to the London Stadium desperate to breathe life to the Julen Lopetegui era but there’s some bad news.
Julen Lopetegui needs a big result against a top side to get people believing at West Ham.
With London rivals Chelsea up next in the Premier League, that’s a tough ask.
But far from impossible given Chelsea’s own inconsistencies under their own new boss Enzo Maresca.
Lopetegui is under pressure to combine style with results at West Ham.
While there have been some glimpses of progress so far, it’s clear the Hammers are going to be a work in progress.
The same can be said for Chelsea. But the Blues have already showed what they’re capable of with a 6-2 win over Wolves.
It is fair to say West Ham’s start under Lopetegui has been nothing to write home about.
The Hammers have two wins, two defeats and a draw so far. But one of the victories came in the Carabao Cup.
West Ham vs Chelsea always has spice to it. Even if the rivalry isn’t what it once was.
Hammers fans will give Lopetegui time to knit his new-look side together.
But he needs an eye-catching performance and result at home to have West Ham fans dreaming again.
Chelsea will be buzzing at crushing double West Ham blow
Defeats to Villa and Man City have dampened the excitement which surrounded the club after what has been widely labelled their best transfer window ever.
Chelsea next shows just how difficult the fixture list has been for West Ham’s new head coach, though.
That being said, the Spaniard has frustrated many supporters with his team selections so far.
Lopetegui has been drip-feeding new signings into the side at a rate even David Moyes would get bored.
The 57-year-old was rather cruelly likened to a pensioner with a collection of sports cars at West Ham after the draw at Fulham.
West Ham fans want to see their new players taking centre stage.
But many of the old guard like Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek are starting games.
New striker Niclas Fullkrug was wanted by Chelsea in the summer.
In fact Paul Merson thinks the Blues dropped a clanger letting West Ham sign Fullkrug.
But he has been on the bench so far for the Hammers. Then just as many thought he might come into the starting XI at Fulham, the German was injured on international duty.
Earlier this week Fullkrug’s chances were rated 50-50 for the visit of Chelsea.
Now Chelsea will be buzzing at a crushing double West Ham blow for their Premier League clash which changes everything.
Two West Ham absentees changes everything
Training ground footage shows Fullkrug is nowhere to be seen at West Ham right now.
West Ham have the second fewest shots on target so far this season.
So it’s clear they need their new forward playing. The 31-year-old has a history of injuries. And he suffered an Achilles tendon and calf issue when away with Germany.
With just two days of training remaining until the midday kick-off against Chelsea, it seems increasingly unlikely Fullkrug will be back. Certainly not to start.
Lopetegui has been starting Antonio and it will be music to Chelsea’s ears if he plays again.
The 34-year-old has been desperately poor so far, failing to grasp the chance to keep the shirt.
West Ham’s lack of depth means he will probably start again if Fullkrug isn’t fit.
Unless Danny Ings’ goal at Fulham has seen him leapfrog Antonio in the West Ham pecking order.
What fans want to see if Jarrod Bowen up front so that Mohammed Kudus can move to the right.
That would also allow another alleged summer target of Chelsea’s, Crysencio Summerville, to finally get a start on the left.
Wan-Bissaka shift unbalances new-look Hammers
The second, and perhaps biggest, blow for West Ham is the fact Emerson Palmieri was also nowhere to be seen in training to face his old club.
Another area West Ham lack depth is at left-back.
So the fact Emerson is missing from training just less than 72 hours out from the game is a major concern.
He brings natural balance to the team. The only senior back-up the Hammers have is Aaron Cresswell.
And the prospect of the ageing Hammer facing Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke on that side will have Chelsea salivating and West Ham hesitating.
What’s far more likely is that Aaron Wan-Bissaka which be switched to left-back. That means the ageing Vladimir Coufal will then come back in to start at right-back where he will be up against the rapid Pedro Neto.
It just upsets the whole balance of the West Ham team.
Wan-Bissaka has already showed he can link up well with Bowen on the right.
And while he can do a job at left-back, it’s frustrating that West Ham may have to wait even longer to see their proper first choice starting XI actually play together in their proper positions.
Likely West Ham starting XI vs Chelsea:
Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka, Rodriguez, Alvarez, Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus, Antonio.
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