London Rivals set to face off tonight at the London Stadium

Written by Amy Tuscher 

The Premier League season is only one game old, but the stakes already feel high as West Ham United host Chelsea at the London Stadium tonight. Both clubs are looking to rebound from disappointing opening-day results, and the clash offers an early opportunity to build momentum and set the tone for the season.

Chelsea, under manager Enzo Maresca, began their campaign with a frustrating goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace. Despite a flurry of new signings and a pre-season that saw them win the Club World Cup, the Blues struggled to break down a well-organized Palace defence. While the result was a setback, they did generate a decent number of shots and expected goals, suggesting that the attacking potential is there. Maresca will be demanding a more ruthless performance from his side tonight.

West Ham's start was far more concerning. Graham Potter's team suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Sunderland. The performance was described as "bereft of ideas" and defensively fragile. The loss has already led to concerns about the direction of the club and their ability to compete this season. Tonight's match is their first at home, and the Hammers will be desperate to show their fans that the Sunderland result was a one-off.

Transfer Window Impact
The summer transfer window has been a busy one for both clubs, and the changes are already starting to show on the pitch, for the good and the bad;

West Ham:
The Hammers have had a summer of significant churn. They have brought in several new faces, including Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. However, they've also seen a number of key players depart. The big-money sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur, along with the departures of long-serving players like Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell, has left some holes to fill. The loan of Edson Álvarez to Fenerbahce, which is reportedly close to being finalized, will further weaken their midfield options for tonight's game and highlights their ongoing search for reinforcements in the middle of the park.

Chelsea:
Chelsea has once again been active in the market, bringing in a host of new talent to fit Maresca's system. Big-money moves for players like Joao Pedro from Brighton and Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund signal their attacking ambitions. Brazilian youngster Estevao has also joined the squad after a pre-agreed deal. On the other hand, the departures of Noni Madueke to Arsenal and Joao Felix to Al-Nassr have thinned their attacking ranks somewhat. The big question for Chelsea is whether these new faces can quickly gel and translate their individual talents into a cohesive and effective team. They also face a challenge with key players like Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku currently unavailable, which has left them looking a bit light in attack.

Prediction
Based on their contrasting opening-day performances, Chelsea enter this match as strong favourites. Their attacking talent, even with some players out, should be too much for a West Ham defence that looked woefully out of sync against Sunderland. The Hammers will be spurred on by their home crowd, but a lack of ideas and stability could see them struggle again. This could be a decisive moment for both teams' early-season narratives in the first London Derby of the season.