[uyenthuy]

West Ham United’s revamped central midfield will need to produce another outstanding collective display if they are to end Chelsea’s winning start this weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to ditch his preferred 4-2-3-1 system for a 4-3-3 formation at Everton on Sunday sacrificed an attacking player, but it was a smart move that gave his team extra solidity.

Pellegrini deployed the versatile Declan Rice as his principle defensive midfielder in between Mark Noble, who added the craft, and Pedro Obiang, who provided the graft.