West Ham United vs Chelsea

The London Stadium forms the backdrop for an all-capital Premier League showdown between West Ham United and Chelsea.

Though it’s been just four rounds into the new Premier League season, new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is already under tremendous pressure after overseeing just one win in four league games (D1, L2). Despite making as many as nine summer signings, the Hammers cannot catch a break under the Spaniard, who boasts a decent H2H record against Chelsea as manager (W2, D1, L2), including a 1-0 win in the only previous Premier League game while he was in charge of Wolverhampton. West Ham avoided defeat against fellow London rivals Fulham at the death last weekend, netting a 95th-minute equalizer to bolster their spirits ahead of this clash. But no clean sheet in home top-flight action since January casts significant doubt on West Ham’s bid to avenge a 5-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge in May.

In the meantime, Chelsea might have started the new season on the back foot with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City, but they’ve been steadily improving ever since. New boss Enzo Maresca needed a touch of Lady Luck to walk away from the Vitality Stadium with all three points last weekend. Evanlison wasted a first-half penalty before his side netted a late winner to topple Bournemouth 1-0, extending their unbeaten league run to three matches (W2, D1). Encouragingly for the Blues faithful, both those victories came on hostile turf, making up for a four-match winning league streak on the road. While another win would make it five in a row for the first time since December 2021, it’s worth noting Chelsea have only won once in their last seven away H2Hs (D2, L4).