West Ham match is 'biggest game' for Chelsea: Rosenior

Liam Rosenior described Chelsea's upcoming London derby versus West Ham on Saturday as the most important match of the season, stating that it would reveal a great deal about his squad.

Rosenior, who stepped in for Enzo Maresca as Chelsea manager earlier this month, has made an excellent beginning at Stamford Bridge, triumphing in his last four fixtures in all competitions.

The Blues, sitting fifth in the Premier League, trail fourth-placed Manchester United by only one point.

They extended Rosenior's successful streak by clinching a spot in the Champions League last 16 via a comeback win away to Napoli on Wednesday.

Chelsea also face an opportunity to advance to the League Cup final as they aim to reverse a 3-2 disadvantage in the semi-final return leg against Arsenal next Tuesday.

Prior to that clash, Rosenior's side will welcome a revitalised West Ham, who remain in the drop zone even after back-to-back victories.

"Tomorrow represents the most crucial fixture of the season for me," Rosenior remarked to journalists on Friday.

"It's straightforward, I expect to learn a huge amount. We're in solid form right now. To build a team that wins regularly, these matches demand that you rise to the occasion and avoid any sense of overconfidence following a victory in Italy, especially returning just three days later.

"I am eager to assess the consistency within the squad. That is precisely why this game serves as a key indicator of our true standing."

Rosenior commended West Ham's manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who assumed control at the London Stadium at the start of this campaign.

"Nuno's influence on the team does not come as a shock to me," he commented. "His sides have consistently shown strong organisation when out of possession, be it in a 4-4-2 formation or shifting to a 5-4-1 defensively.

"Moreover, they excel in quick counter-attacking phases."