The Premier League serves up a tasty London derby this weekend as West Ham United host Chelsea at the London Stadium on Saturday, with both teams looking to build momentum after contrasting starts to the season.
West Ham, now under the stewardship of Julen Lopetegui, enter the match with just one win from their first four league outings. The Hammers salvaged a point last weekend with Danny Ings’ injury-time equalizer at Fulham, but have struggled at home, losing to both Aston Villa and Manchester City.
Lopetegui, still integrating a slew of new signings, faces the challenge of turning the London Stadium into a fortress. “It’s a work in progress at present,” the former Wolves manager admitted in his pre-match press conference.
Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive in east London riding a three-game unbeaten run in the league. After an opening weekend defeat to Manchester City, the Blues have collected seven points from their last three matches, including a hard-fought 1-0 win at Bournemouth last Saturday.
Manager Enzo Maresca’s side got a late winner from substitute Christopher Nkunku at Bournemouth, highlighting the depth of talent at his disposal. Nkunku’s impact off the bench has put him in contention for a starting role against West Ham.
“We have many players pushing for a start,” Maresca said. “It’s a good problem to have, especially for a match of this intensity.”
The contrasting fortunes of the two sides add intrigue to this crosstown rivalry. West Ham will be eager to secure their first home points of the season, while Chelsea aim to continue their ascent up the table.
Key players to watch include West Ham’s new signing Mohammed Kudus, who could make his full debut, and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, who has been in fine form in recent weeks.
With both teams harboring European ambitions, this early-season clash could prove crucial in setting the tone for their respective campaigns.
