Tottenham Hotspur Face West Ham United: Preview, Team News, and Predictions
Tottenham Hotspur travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United in a crucial Premier League clash. This match marks a new era for Spurs, following the departure of Daniel Levy, who had been involved with the club since 2000. Can Spurs bounce back from their disappointing loss against Bournemouth before the international break?
West Ham's Form and Key Players
West Ham endured a difficult start to the season, suffering heavy defeats against Sunderland and Chelsea. However, they turned things around with a remarkable comeback win against Nottingham Forest. Despite their inconsistency, key players like Jarrod Bowen pose a significant threat. Soucek's aerial ability from set-pieces, particularly with Ward-Prowse's delivery, is another area of concern for Spurs. Paqueta, when on form, can also cause problems.
West Ham has struggled at home recently, failing to win any of their last six Premier League matches at the London Stadium. They have, however, managed to score in their last five home games. Historically, a 1-1 draw has been a common result in this fixture, occurring in the last three seasons. Tottenham hasn't secured a Premier League away win against West Ham since before the 2019-2020 lockdown.
Team News and Injury Updates
Tottenham is missing several key players due to injury, including Dominik Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Kota Takai, and Radu Dragusin. West Ham has re-signed Lukasz Fabianski on a short-term contract and acquired Igor Julio on loan from Brighton. They also have injury concerns with Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme, and George Earthy sidelined.
Possible Lineups and Tactical Approaches
Spurs manager Frank faces a selection dilemma following the international break, with several players returning from long journeys. The defense appears settled, with Spence likely to continue at left-back. If Romero needs rest, Danso could step in. The midfield is more uncertain, with Palhinha potentially retaining his place. The possibility of pairing Bergvall and Simons is intriguing, although Sarr's defensive contributions might give him the edge. Bentancur could also feature in a two-man midfield.
In attack, Richarlison, despite a poor showing against Bournemouth, is likely to lead the line, with Kudus a certain starter on the right. Odobert could replace Johnson on the left to unlock West Ham’s likely low block. Alternatively, Simons could play on the wing, creating space for Bergvall centrally.
Lucas Bergvall starts for Spurs in this match. Xavi Simons also makes his debut for Tottenham. West Ham coach Graham Potter makes one change with Crysencio Summerville replacing Niclas Füllkrug.
Confirmed Starting Lineups
West Ham: Hermansen – Diouf, Kilman, Mavropanos, Walker-Peters – Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Fernandes – Paqueta, Bowen, Summerville
Tottenham: Vicario – Spence, Van de Ven, Romero, Porro – Sarr, Palhinha, Bergvall – Simons, Tel, Kudus
Prediction
Despite the challenges, there's a sense of excitement surrounding Tottenham. I'm predicting a 3-1 victory for Spurs, with goals from Richarlison, Sarr, and a debut goal for Simons.
COYS!