After a horrific start to the season, things are finally looking a bit improved for West Ham United with two back to back wins in the Premier League. However, there is a big chance that their resurrection might come to an end in the midweek in the fourth round of the League Cup when they host London rivals Chelsea.
Chelsea will be high on enthusiasm after their emphatic 4-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and will be looking for another rout against West Ham on Wednesday.
The Blues have won all their last three games and will be looking to book their place in the quarter-finals as Conte would be targeting his first silverware in English football. Â West Ham have won both their last two games with 1-0 margins.
Bilic opting for a three at the back system has finally solved the Hammers’ defensive crisis. We do not expect much changes in the West Ham lineup as they will be looking to gain the momentum for the first time this season.
Here is the predicted West Ham lineup against Chelsea.
Defence
Even though Darren Randolph is the cup keeper for the Hammers, Adrian will start under the bar with the Irishman injured. The back three of Cheikhou Kouyaté, Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna has managed to keep two back to back clean sheets for the Hammers and Bilic should opt for an unchanged back three. Kouyaté will start at the middle of the back three in a sweeper role and Reid and Ogbonna will take their places at the right and left respectively.
Midfield
Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang will start just in front of the back three and their key job will be to protect the back four as well as play simple forward passes to the attackers. Obiang gives the Hammers a solid defensive protection while Noble makes things happen with his passing.
Edmilson Fernandes started the last game on the left flank and did pretty well but we expect Aaron Cresswell to replace the Swede in the left wing-back role. Michail Antonio should keep his place on the right.
Attack
The duo of Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet will start just behind the centre-forward and will be looking to do the damage to Chelsea with their passing, movement, dribbling skills and creativity. Even though Simone Zaza is yet to score his first goal for the Hammers, he has improved in the last two games. Zaza will keep his place up front and will be looking to get his first goal in the big game.
