Diafra Sakho enjoys the big occasion and even more so if he scores.
The Senegal striker can already count goals against heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City among his three Barclays Premier League strikes this term, but is now keen to add Chelsea to his hit
list.
Sakho was repeatedly denied by 'keeper Thibaut Courtois when the sides met at the Boleyn Ground last season, with the visitors prevailing 1-0, and so has a score to settle on Saturday.
“Last season I scored against Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City, but not Chelsea or Arsenal. So this season I would like to add at least one of them to my list, that’s my target,” he confirmed.
“Chelsea are a great team, we know they are down at the moment but they are capable of waking up at any moment so we have to be careful when we play them. They are a great side and I still think they will finish in the top four.”
With the free-scoring Hammers now up to 20 goals in just nine league outings, Sakho, naturally, is absolutely loving it, even if it means in-form duo Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini taking the limelight for the time being.
He continued: “It’s a pleasure to play in this team, with the quality players we have. We are scoring a lot of goals, the new signings have made a big impact – especially Payet and Lanzini, they are crucial to our attacking play.
“When we win the ball back, we are very effective on the counter attack. We make it very difficult for opposition defence.”
It will come as no surprise, then, that he credits Payet and Lanzini with the two outstanding solo displays this term. And while the Frenchman’s quality speaks for itself, Sakho was quick to heap praise on his new South American colleague too.
“In terms of the two best individual performances I’ve seen in my time at West Ham, they are definitely Dimitri against Arsenal and Manuel Lanzini against Liverpool.
“Lanzini is a player that has really impressed me, I didn’t much about him before he signed for us but he is a superb player. He has impressed everyone with his technique.”