Chelsea’s away fixture to West ham United will be a tricky one. More so because both the sides won’t be risking many first team players considering their weekend Premier League fixtures. While Chelsea will be visiting Southampton, West Ham’s trip is equally difficult with a fresh Everton side waiting to end their recent winless run.
Both the teams go into the game with wins, though Chelsea’s confidence will be soaring sky high after they thrashed Manchester United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. But it will be the first time, Chelsea play in the new London Stadium and there is every chance that things go south there.
Dimitri Payet vs Ola Aina
The last time Chelsea played in the League, Conte still deployed 4 at the back. Now that things have changed a lot for Chelsea’s back line, we expect Conte to opt for John Terry, Marcos Alonso, and Ola Aina to start at the back. With Aina replacing Azpilicueta, he will be up against West Ham’s best player on the pitch, Dmitri Payet.
West Ham United last played against Accrington Stanley and struggled to find a goal till Dimitri Payet came off the bench to score the winner and the only goal of the match. Now, with Chelsea as the opponents, Bilic won’t be benching Payet.
Considering Aina’s game experience, which has been very little, he might have a tough challenge down the flank against Dmitri Payet.
Michy Batshuayi vs Angelo Ogbonna
The strongly built Italian centre-back has been a rock for Bilic in the Premier League after the change of tactics to a three-man backline. He is one of the reasons, West Ham have managed a run of clean sheets after a torrid start. He will up against Chelsea’s Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi, who has been shadowed by Diego Costa’s incredible goal scoring form this season.
Bilic should play Ogbonna at the back as he would like to keep controlled and disciplined there. While Conte is expected to with Loftus-Cheek and Moses at the front, the main threat for the Hammers would be the Belgian striker. Whoever gets the better of the other is more likely to decide the final scoreline.
Simone Zaza v John Terry
Being one of West Ham’s much-hyped signings this past summer, Simone Zaza was expected to do take England by storm this season. However, 6 matches have gone and he is yet to make a mark when it comes to scoring. The Italian had a decent spell at Juventus where he scored some important goals but couldn’t replicate the form he showed at Sassuolo. It is just a matter of time before he starts firing for West Ham and there is no reason to believe that it won’t be against Chelsea.
But if it happens, he will up against one of the best defenders in the history of English football, John Terry. Perhaps what Zaza needs is one of the best competitors in the English game to finally awaken his goal scoring instincts!
