The Blues are on the road for the first time in this season’s Premier League today, with a derby match away in the east of the capital at the London Stadium.

In our opener at Stamford Bridge against Crystal Palace, Joao Pedro got the nod to start before being replaced by Delap with 20 minutes to play as we continued to push for a winning goal.

Maresca kept his cards close to his chest when it came to which of our strikers will lead the attack against West Ham tonight, but explained how each brings different attributes to the team, and highlighted that the Brazilian’s versatility means the pair could operate together.

‘I think Joao with us can play the five positions in the front, as a winger wide, or inside in the middle of the pitch, or behind a striker. I think he can play in all the positions,’ our head coach began.

‘For sure, probably as a nine or behind the striker is his best position, but he can play in all the attacking positions for us.

‘Joao probably, in more space in this moment, gives us more than Liam. Liam probably gives us a little bit more in terms of physicality and in terms of runs in behind. So, it depends a little bit on the game plan.

‘The good thing is that, like the other day against Palace, they both tried. Liam, when he came on, was good. Joao tried even if it was difficult because they defended very well, so it was difficult for any striker.

‘The good thing is that both of them are good and both of them are going to score goals.’

The two forwards both joined Chelsea over the summer; Joao Pedro arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion and Delap completed a move from Ipswich Town. And alongside fellow summer additions Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens, there is a fresh-look Blues attack for 2025/26.

While Maresca hopes each can make a big impact in the final third, he admits he was pleased with our attacking play last season, at least in terms of the number of chances we created for our strikers.

He said: ‘If we change it is because we think that changing could improve our attacking phase, even if I was quite happy last year in terms of the goals we scored, and especially with the amount of chances we created.

‘In terms of chances created we were one of the best teams in the league, so hopefully this season we can be also a little bit more lucky in terms of injuries, because don’t forget that for more than two months we lost the two strikers that we had last year, Nico [Jackson] and Marc [Guiu].

‘But if we are able to create the same volume as we did last year, I will be quite happy.’

Hopefully, the chances will flow at the London Stadium this evening as we kick off at 8pm against West Ham in our second derby of the season.