Chelsea, motoring at home, expect to find higher gear on their travels

Chelsea's 3-1 victory over rock-bottom West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday was achieved with a modicum of effort.

It left the reigning champions on top with four wins from their opening four games and their London rivals rooted to the foot of the table without a point.

A brace from Michael Essien and a goal from Salomon Kalou earned Chelsea all three points although West Ham midfielder Scott Parker became the first player to score against the Blues this season when he lobbed goalkeeper Petr Cech for a consolation effort.

Chelsea were given an injury scare when captain John Terry was forced out of the action with a rib injury but Ancelotti is hopeful that he, along with injured Frank Lampard, will be fit enough to play against MSK Zilina Slovakia on Wednesday.

Ancelotti is already looking at resting a number of players against Zilina while Didier Drogba is suspended.

The Italian coach is determined to improve on last season's performance in Europe which saw Chelsea go out in the last-16 stage at the hands of eventual winners Inter Milan.

"I'll change the line-up because I want to rest players," confirmed Ancelotti.

"I don't want to think the Champions League is more important than the Premier League. Both were very important last season.

"This season the normal thing is to think more about the Champions League, but we don't want to say the Premier League is not important.

"Our aim is to improve, to do better and stay involved in all the competitions until the end of the season."