West Ham United host Chelsea in Saturday’s early Premier League kick off with the aim of moving up the table after a middling start to the season.
The Hammers’ only win of the campaign came against Crystal Palace back in August and they drew 1-1 with Fulham last time out. Manager Julen Lopetegui is attempting to build a more progressive and attacking side and will have been impressed with their early performances despite results not exactly falling their way.
Today’s opponents are Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Currently eighth in the table, the Blues are running hot and cold with a 6-2 mauling of Wolves followed up by a 2-0 defeat at home to Man City. Three points today will likely take them into the top four but there are questions for Maresca to answer over his best starting line-up with Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson fighting to lead the line.
Follow all the action from the London Stadium with our live blog below:
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
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West Ham host Chelsea in the Premier League with kick off at 12.30pm, live on TNT Sports
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The Hammers drew 1-1 with Fulham last time out and hope to get back to winning ways
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Chelsea will move into top four with a win
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West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Sumerville; Kudus.
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Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Chelsea team news
11:27 , Chris Wilson
Enzo Maresca had made three changes to the side that snuck a 1-0 win against Bournemouth last week. In defence, Axel Disasi drops out for summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo, with Wesley Fofana moving to right-back.
Captiain Enzo Fernandez returns to midfield in place of Renato Veiga, while Pedro Neto drops out for fellow summer signing Jadon Sancho, who got the assist last week along with the man of the match award.
West Ham team news
11:22 , Chris Wilson
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has made just two changes to the side that drew to Fulham last weekend. Kudus moves into the striker position, with Michail Antonio replaced by Crysencio Summerville.
Tomas Soucek makes way for Lucas Paqueta as an attacking midfielder.
West Ham line-up
11:19 , Chris Wilson
West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Sumerville; Kudus.
Subs: Fabianski, Creswell, Soler, Coufal, Antonio, Ings, Todibo, Soucek, Irving.
Line-ups
11:17 , Chris Wilson
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Disasi, Neto, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku.
Team news on the way…
11:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A 12.30 kick off means a bit of morning Premier League team news – we will very soon find out this afternoon’s combatants at the London Stadium. Will Enzo Maresca stick with a settled side? Does Julen Lopetegui have a curveball up his sleeve?
Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise
11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca told his Chelsea players to continue to shut out external noise after they secured a second Premier League win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth last weekend.
The Blues remained in the headlines during the September international break after reports emerged of a rift between co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
It is the latest off-field problem for Maresca to handle after he fielded various questions over the future of several players during a busy summer of transfer activity.
Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise
West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE
06:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good morning and welcome along to The Independent’s live coverage of the opening clash of the Premier League weekend. It’s to the east of London we head as West Ham prepare to host Chelsea in an intriguing little lunch-time number to whet the appetite ahead of a busy weekend in the English top flight.
Kick off is at 12.30pm BST.
