Premier League: West Ham Face a Challenging Chelsea

West Ham United vs Chelsea

A Premier League 2018 derby is rarely uneventful.

A clash between these two rivals seldom is either.

SBOBET fans could be in for a treat as Manuel Pellegrini and Maurizio Sarri go head to head in the top flight for the first time.

Talking Points

The main Premier League 2018 news surrounds the fitness of Marko Arnautovic.

There’s no question he’s the man to watch as far as the hosts are concerned. He’s had a hand in 11 of club’s last 16 top-flight goals (seven goals and four assists), and he was instrumental in their 3-1 success at Everton last weekend.

Andriy Yarmolenko also netted his first two goals for his new club in that game to provide some breathing space after four straight defeats.

A victory here would continue their fine home record against Chelsea, including a memorable 1-0 success last season, and secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since January last year.

Yet Pellegrini knows defeat in this one would put them back to square one also.

It would set an unwanted record as they would lose their first three home matches of the season for the first time in the club’s history.

Home form has been particularly disappointing thus far as the Hammers have gone down to Bournemouth and newly promoted Wolves.

Pellegrini is hopeful Arnautovic will be passed fit to face the table-toppers across the capital, but Javier Hernandez – a talent rarely fully utilised in his 13 months in East London – is a doubt, while new signing Jack Wilshere is sidelined after surgery.

So is Andy Carroll, so often the scourge of Chelsea in the past, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini, all long-term absentees.

Chelsea’s main fitness concerns surround Spanish winger Pedro who sustained a shoulder league in their Europa League tie which was played less than 72 hours before this kicks off.

Chelsea look to extend their unbeaten start in the Premier League season when they face West Ham — Eden Hazard celebrates his goal with Chelsea team-mates

Eden Hazard, who is in such impressive form, and David Luiz were both rested for that tie and will undoubtedly start.

Hazard is in sparkling form, netting a hat-trick in last weekend’s win over newly promoted Cardiff City and continuing from where he left off for Belgium in the summer and the recent international break.

There hasn’t been a better player in the world over the last four months in this observer’s view, but Hazard’s contribution is helping to hide some flaws in the squad Sarri has inherited.

Their transition from a back three, favoured under Antonio Conte, to a back four has yet to properly convince, and potentially a front three of Yarmolenko, Arnautovic and Felipe Anderson could prey on any vulnerability.

Indeed, the Italian boss is surely well aware of those flaws and will need time to address them. For now, though, his high-pressing Sarri ball is progressing well with Hazard and Marcos Alonso – who has been involved in six of Chelsea’s 14 goals so far this term – key down the left flank.

The full/wing-back has also won two penalties and saw a shot deflected into goal in recent weeks, just to highlight his value to the FA Cup holders.

In attack, Olivier Giroud is likely to get the nod once again ahead of Alvaro Morata.

History

West Ham have won three of the last four home matches against Chelsea in all competitions.

West Ham have only lost two of their last seven meetings against their arch-rivals.

Chelsea are aiming to win their opening six matches for the third time – when they did so in 2005-06 and 2009-10, they won the Premier League on both occasions.

Chelsea have won five of their past six away EPL games.

West Ham took four points off Chelsea last season – winning 1-0 at home and drawing 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.