West Ham host Chelsea on Sunday, looking to build on the momentum generated by last weekend’s win at Everton.
That victory at Goodison has lifted the club, but Maurizio Sarri’s Blues are currently unbeaten and top of the league.
It’s sure to be a tough game so we asked Chelsea fan and journalist Will Rider for the lowdown on the Blues…
Where can Chelsea hurt West Ham?
Man of the moment and, for many, the form player in Europe, Eden Hazard will be giving Manuel Pellegrini sleepless nights.
Despite having no pre-season, Hazard has fired Chelsea to the top of the table after an individually sensational World Cup.
His developing partnership with Olivier Giroud is becoming ever-more effective, with Hazard labelling him the best target man around.
It’s not all about Hazard though. Chelsea are joint top scorers along with Man City and Pedro and Willian always provide a goal threat.
Where can West Ham hurt Chelsea?
Any side with Marko Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko in attack is always going to be dangerous. Javier Hernandez normally finds a way to score against Chelsea as well.
West Ham may have had a torrid start to the season but their tails will be up after a vital win away at Everton.
West Ham has proven to be a difficult fixture for Chelsea of late, with only one goal separating the sides in the last seven meetings. The 1-0 loss last season at the London Stadium was particularly painful.
What differences have you noticed under Sarri?
Chelsea did not just bring in a new manager in Sarri but a whole different system.
The 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 under Antonio Conte has been replaced by a 4-3-3, with a focus on high levels of possession. Whilst the attack is firing, the defence is still very much a work in progress.
César Azpilicueta has reverted to right-back after impressing on the right-side of a back three under Conte, and while Marcos Alonso has flourished at left-back, Victor Moses has found himself unable to break into the team.
David Luiz has also returned to the fold, alienating Andreas Christensen, one of the most promising centre-halves in Europe.
How are the new boys settling in?
The signing of Jorginho from Napoli has been key to implementing Sarri’s style of play, with the Italian sitting at the base of the midfield three and N’Golo Kante pushing further up the pitch.
Whilst Kante and Jorginho are sure starters, there is only one midfield spot available for Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek the increasingly maligned Danny Drinkwater and Cesc Fabregas, who is nursing a knee injury, to fight over.
Kovacic, on loan from Real Madrid, has looked a class act so far, making Chelsea’s midfield one of the most balanced in the league.
The loss of Thibaut Courtois was inevitable but his departure turned ugly when he went on strike. Kepa, Spain’s second choice goalkeeper, has looked solid, if unspectacular, thus far. He’s still finding his feet.
Can West Ham turn it around and push up the league now?
West Ham have undoubted quality going forward and a high-class manager in Manuel Pellegrini.
The four league losses at the start of the season were worrying but I expect West Ham to find greater consistency as the new signings continue to settle in.
Long-term injuries to Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini, as well as the latest setback for Jack Wilshere, must be frustrating but I don’t think West Ham will be in any trouble come May.
Score Prediction
Chelsea’s defensive shape still requires some work and clean sheets are proving hard to come by.
However, I expect Chelsea to dominate the lion’s share of possession and create enough chances to bring three points back to Stamford Bridge. 3-1 Chelsea.
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