Premier League: A Tasty London Clash in Tottenham!

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United

London’s calling for the opening top flight fixture this weekend, when Premier League: Tottenham vs West Ham United is the box office pull in the capital city.   

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are looking for a European place, competing with the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester United. The North Londoners were on a good run until they lost 3-2 to another ambitious side, Brighton and Hove Albion, just before the international break.

Spurs currently sit in ninth place, but just four points behind Chelsea in fourth. Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui has not found life easy in his early weeks as West Ham United boss but, after a sticky start, the Hammers are making headway and come into the game on the back of a 4-1 home win over Ipswich Town, a result which lifted the West Ham up to 12^th place.  

The Tottenham vs West Ham United betting odds are firmly behind Postecoglou’s Whites; but this is a derby, which makes it that little bit harder to call.

 

Talking Points

Spurs hoping to see Son shine

Tottenham captain and most potent player Heung-Min Son has been out of the Spurs side for the last three games after he pulled a hamstring during the 3-0 Europa League victory over Qarabag in September. He didn’t travel with South Korea during the international break and has been working with the physios at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, so Son has a good chance of making an appearance on Saturday.    

Without him, his team beat Manchester United and Ferencvaros and Tottenham went to Brighton on a rich run of form while the Seagulls were struggling a little; and it was all going swimmingly as top scorer Brennan Johnson and James Maddison gave Spurs a 2-0 half time lead. But the Whites collapsed, conceding three goals in 20 minutes and Brighton were 3-2 ahead midway through the second half… and that’s the way it stayed.

A return for Son would be a timely boost and Postecoglou would love to involve the South Korean, if he is fully fit; though the boss may opt to start with Timo Werner and his captain on the bench. Johnson, who has three goals and Maddison will also play a big part as the creative muscles in the side, with Dejan Kulusevski alongside. This is a team with goals in it and they will be desperate to put things right after their disastrous trip to the South coast.     

 

Lopetegui’s Hammers are taking shape

After taking a couple of thumpings at the hands of top four sides Chelsea and Liverpool, West Ham have put in two strong performances, with a 1-1 draw away to Brentford and a 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich in the East End.

The Hammers defence has been restructured over the summer with newcomers Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and former Chelsea star Emerson across the back four, and they will start with Alphonse Areola behind them as the last line of defence. 

In the front six, midfield general Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta and captain Jarrod Bowen have all scored two goals so far, and there could be a start for veteran striker Michail Antonio who opened the scoring against the Tractor Boys and led the line superbly. The Hammers are still waiting for another summer signing Niclas Fullkrug to come back from injury and he is getting closer, while attacking midfielder Carlos Soler, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, is pushing for a start.

There is plenty of quality in Lopetegui’s squad and the signs, just before the international break, were that they are starting to click.

 

History

With 30 wins to 21 the Whites have had the better of the Tottenham vs West Ham United results in the Premier League era, but the Hammers had the upper hand last season, with a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium and a 2-1 win in Tottenham.

Spurs were coming together with five wins on the bounce before they lost to Brighton, while West Ham ended a run of three losses and two draws with their win over Ipswich Town.   

The Hammers are unbeaten away in the league this season with a win and two draws and Tottenham have had their troubles in London derbies in recent times, winning one, drawing one and losing four of their last six meetings in the capital. 

 

Betting Tip

Tottenham are priced at 1.44 with SBOTOP to win this tasty clash or 4.33 to draw, with an away win out at 4.93. I think we’re in for a cracker here between two sides in pretty good shape; and I’m backing Lopetegui’s Hammers to take another step forward.

   

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