Our first London derby of the new season pits top versus bottom and many against former employers. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton release the pause button on the club season...
As you were, number one. The league campaign resumes following the ill-timed international action, with the champions the only English league side among the 92 to maintain a 100% record, and the only among that number yet to concede a goal.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in two of the most recent three visits of the Boleyn Ground, too, but the only really important goal is earning three points. As porous as West Ham currently appear, this fixture always produces a hostile atmosphere.
Despite the title success last season, this is the second opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti's players to improve on their points haul compared to the same match a year earlier. The previous one, Wigan away, was emphatically taken: a 6-0 drubbing succeeding 2009's 1-3 defeat.
Two sons of east London, John Terry and Frank Lampard, should return from injury recuperation and minor surgery respectively, rather than England duty, in time for the traditional Green Street welcome.
It does not faze them: former Hammer Frank's bizarre three-times-taken penalty earned the draw on the Blues' last visit (though he did miss one in the 2-0 win over Stoke a fortnight ago).
The pause for so many of our internationals to represent their countries across the globe might arguably lead to a loss of momentum, and it's true that at the corresponding stage last year Chelsea laboured to a last-minute 2-1 win at Stoke City courtesy of Florent Malouda.In context, though, it was not that out of place, coming after a 2-0 victory at Fulham and before that defeat at Wigan.
An earlier Fifa break in August 2009 came ahead of another late, hard-earned win over Hull at the Bridge, while the one in early October was followed by a disappointing 1-2 defeat at Villa Park.
With most international matches brought forward a day so that players are back in training earlier ahead of the weekend, the impact may have diminished, but Chelsea will have to be on our mettle.
Avram Grant has reached his 100th day in charge (Friday 10th) and will be aiming for the first points of his managerial career at the Boleyn Ground. Chelsea have not lost to West Ham for more than seven years, however, and he was actually in charge of the west Londoners when we recently recorded our biggest ever win in the east, 4-0 in March 2008.
Previously at his clubs in England - Chelsea and Portsmouth - he has taken over a set of players and a tactical approach with which he was already somewhat familiar through a 'director of football' role.
At the Boleyn everything - defender Tal Ben Haim aside - is new. Even the new board that appointed him is still getting its feet under the desk to an extent, and yet to bond with all the club's supporters.
In ten days it will be three years since Grant took over the reins at Stamford Bridge from José Mourinho. A controversial appointment, he remains the only manager to steer Chelsea to a Champions League final. But for the width of a post, he would be honoured as an all-time great for winning it.
Early on this weekend, all eyes and jeers will be on Wayne Rooney and his return to boyhood haunt, Goodison Park. The Toffees have had a sticky start to the campaign, but won the fixture 3-1 last season.
The Gunners, though hit by key injuries, have won their last four at home to Bolton with some ease.
Man City have put seven past Rovers in their two most recent encounters at Eastlands, and Birmingham-Liverpool has been a drawn game for the two seasons.
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