Manuel Pellegrini needs to work out who is best right-back is at West Ham.
There is much debate surrounding the right-back position at West Ham right now, with veteran Pablo Zabaleta and summer signing Ryan Fredericks battling it out for the spot.
But that argument could be put to bed for a while if either of them manages to shackle Chelsea’s in-form sensation Eden Hazard at the weekend.
Zabaleta, 33, performed well in the last game during the win away to Everton and looks like he could have the starting position on Sunday against Chelsea.
The ex-Manchester City enforcer is a streetwise defender that has been at the top level and proved his consistency last season at the London Stadium too.
He is in direct competition with Fredericks, who is a speed machine that arrived from Fulham with a decent reputation and is looking to prove himself in the top flight.
The 25-year-old has been caught out defensively a couple of times during his three appearances so far this campaign and he could be kicked into touch by Zabaleta this weekend.
Zabaleta will surely hold all the aces with a good display in Sunday’s home fixture against Chelsea, as he will be coming up against arguably the best player in the Premier League right now.
Hazard is thriving in a new free attacking role under manager Maurizio Sarri and has been directly involved in seven goals in just five games so far this season.
The Belgian superstar can terrorise any defender when he is on top form, but there is no doubt Zabaleta will try to use every bit of his experience to keep him at bay.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
