Hammers await Chelsea test

Chelsea will arrive at the Olympic Stadium for the League Cup fourth round match against West Ham high on confidence after back-to-back league wins over EPL champions Leicester City and Manchester United. (Photo: AFP)

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is hopeful that his side’s recent run of form in the Premier League could translate into a memorable League Cup run ahead of Chelsea’s visit on Wednesday.

West Ham initially struggled to reproduce the form that helped them to finish seventh in the league last season as they lost five of their nine matches in the current campaign — a run that included four successive defeats.

However, Bilic’s side are undefeated in their last three games, and the Croat has urged his side to maintain momentum in the League Cup.

“We have seven points from three games in the league, so the confidence is back now. We have to continue in this way,” Bilic said.

“It’s not Wednesday-Saturday, we play Everton on Sunday. So we are going to play a very strong team and try and get through.

“If you go through, because some big teams will have left, you may have an easier game and then you’re nearly there.”

Chelsea will arrive at the Olympic Stadium high on confidence after back-to-back league wins over English champions

Leicester City and Manchester United, and Bilic said he expects a fiercely competitive London derby. “Chelsea are one of the candidates to win the league and they have quality in all parts of the pitch. They’re big opponents,” Bilic added.

“Chelsea changed system and they have had some good wins and performances. They are very positive now and playing good football. It’s a one-off London derby cup game. Five or 10 years ago clubs weren’t so keen on this cup but now it’s important.”

‘United approach could favour City’ Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes bitter rivals Manchester United have handed his team an advantage by playing down local derby at Old Trafford.

The injury-plagued Belgium international defender started a game for the first time since April in Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Southampton and came through unscathed as City gained a point that put them top of the table on goal difference.

Now Kompany hopes to retain his place for the EFL Cup fourth-round tie, especially as United manager Jose Mourinho — beaten 4-0 at his old side Chelsea on Sunday — has described the competition as being fourth on his club’s list of priorities.

“It’s just physically impossible for me to play down a derby,” said Kompany, 30. “But the more they say this is the fourth competition, the better it is for us.

“Am I looking forward to Wednesday Come on, always. The bigger the game, the better.

“That’s how I’ve always approached it in my career and I will for the rest of my career. Those games are what you play for.”

City hold the League Cup after beating Liverpool on penalties in a Wembley final in February, but they make the journey across Manchester on a run of five league and cup games without victory.

The remaining all-top-flight tie sees Southampton host the Premier League’s bottom club Sunderland.