Formed by Hammers supporters Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth but accessible analysis of their team and its players, Analytics United will provide content for the Club's official website, app, Official Programme and social media channels over the course of the 2023/24 season.
Here, Analytics United use performance analysis and data to examine how West Ham United could expose Chelsea defensively on Sunday afternoon...
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino sprung a surprise for their opening fixture against Liverpool in opting for a flexible lineup capable of operating in both a three-at-the back shape in attack and a four-at-the-back shape in defence.
This was partly thanks to Ben Chilwell’s off-ball positioning on the left of the midfield four, rather than in defence, as the ex-Leicester City man was tasked with following Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who regularly drifted from his starting position to move into a double-pivot alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Resultantly, Chelsea’s system could appear lopsided with Levi Colwill, who we know as a centre-back from his outstanding performances last season on loan at Brighton, fulfilling the left-back role while Chilwell was dragged out by Alexander-Arnold’s movement.
It’s impossible to draw firm conclusions from this first game as it’s not only a small sample but possibly also unrepresentative as few teams can boast the same quality as Liverpool can at right-back. Though, based on the evidence we have seen, when West Ham probe for possible weaknesses that could be exploited, it seems a vulnerability to counter-attacks and long passes, or switches, to their right wing might be the most obvious of these.
As Chelsea attacked using a three-at-the-back shape last Sunday, Reece James would move forward into an advanced wing-back position in possession and leave his defence protected by an often isolated Conor Gallagher in the centre.
With Enzo Fernández and Carney Chukwuemeka also advancing to assist in attack, Chelsea were left with Axel Disasi and Colwill isolated 1v1 against Liverpool’s wingers with just Gallagher in front to halt progression on the counter. If James could recover in time to complete the four, Colwill would then be pushed out to left-back and into a direct battle with Mohamed Salah on that flank.
Whilst there may be many clear differences between Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and David Moyes’ West Ham United side, both teams have direct threats on the right flank and Jarrod Bowen would surely be excited by the prospect of facing up a central defender in wide 1v1 scenarios.
In fact, it was one of these scenarios that produced Liverpool’s goal last weekend as Klopp’s side worked the ball out from Alisson to Salah in just four passes before completing a switch of sorts in attack as the Egyptian threaded the ball behind and across the Chelsea backline to find Luis Díaz, who slotted home.
Crucially here, the pass that initially found Salah travelled over 30 yards from Mac Allister’s boot to the right flank. This usage of a longer pass allowed Salah to attack 1v1 directly against Colwill and enabled Liverpool to maximise the impact of their pace by bypassing the Chelsea midfield while the Blues’ defensive line remained high.
David Moyes’ side could employ a similar approach in feeding the ball to Bowen as directly as possible on the break. If Bowen could then be supported by other attacking runners such as Michail Antonio, Saïd Benrahma, or possibly Maxwel Cornet – then the Hammers could expose Chelsea’s aggressiveness in possession by using both width and pace on the counter.
Particularly interesting here, as with Liverpool’s goal last weekend, is the possible synergy between both wingers as Chelsea’s rest defence shape not only leaves Colwill exposed out wide against the right-sided attacker but also leaves James with huge ground to cover to get back and defend on the opposition’s left side.
If the right winger can initially receive and beat Colwill then there could be ample opportunity for the winger on the opposite flank to break beyond James and arrive first given the head start they could feasibly receive.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Analytics United and do not necessarily reflect the views opinions of West Ham United.
