Four key changes Slaven Bilic must make ahead of West Ham’s season opener at Chelsea

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West Ham United travel to fierce rivals Chelsea on Monday night for the Premier League opener and Slaven Bilic must make several changes.

West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate celebrates against Domzale

The Hammers have already played two competitive matches this summer in the Europa League and beat Slovenian side NK Domzale 4-2 over two legs recently.

Chelsea are under new management in the form of Italian taskmaster Antonio Conte and are being tipped to mount a serious title challenge following last season’s spectacular collapse.

The London rivals clash in the opening game of Conte’s reign at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

Chelsea’s manager Antonio Conte gestures

East meets West

Meanwhile, West Ham will be hoping for a similar start to last season when they beat another London rival expected to challenge for the title in the shape of Arsenal, 2-0 at the Emirates.

But Bilic must make a number of changes to the side that beat Domzale 3-0 last time out.

West Ham’s Adrian

Adrian in for Darren Randolph

There’s not much to choose between the two West Ham goalkeepers nowadays but Adrian is officially the club’s number one ‘keeper and will come in for the Republic of Ireland star at Stamford Bridge.

New Hammers signing Arthur Masuaku

Arthur Masuaku in for Reece Oxford

New left-back signing Arthur Masuaku only joined the Hammers this week but given the long-term injury to Aaron Cresswell, the pacy and attacking Frenchman will more than likely come straight into the side to shore up the left.

Reece Oxford played very well against Domzale and is a future Hammers captain, but Chelsea is a huge step up and Bilic will go with experience at the back.

Angelo OgbonnaAngelo Ogbonna in for Sam Byram

Ogbonna will resume his partnership with Winston Reid at the heart of West Ham’s defence off the back of being involved in Italy’s Euro 2016 adventure under new Blues boss Conte.

Although Ogbonna and James Collins were West Ham’s best pairing statistically last season, Reid is the club’s main man at the back and that is set to be the pairing which starts the season.

Sam Byram has been filling in there in recent weeks but will drop to the bench as back-up for Michail Antonio.

Andre Ayew celebrates

Andre Ayew in for Enner Valencia

The new record £20.5 million signing from Swansea City should come straight into the side in place of the ineffective and frustrating Valencia who has been linked with a move away from East London.

Ayew brings the direct threat, pace and goals that West Ham have been missing and got two goals on his debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of last season.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic

How will Hammers line-up against Chelsea

That will leave the Hammers lining up something like this come Monday night with the likes of Dimitri Payet on the bench to come on for the last half an hour after Bilic admitted his star man won’t be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes.