HomeFeatured ArticlesWest Ham vs Tottenham Preview | Team News, Stats & Key Men

West Ham vs Tottenham Preview | Team News, Stats & Key Men

The Premier League returns this weekend after a week off due to the international break. One of the standout fixtures will be taking place at the London Stadium, as West Ham welcome Tottenham in what will be a fiercely-contested fixture. A resurgent home side will be hoping to prove their lofty ambitions with a positive result against one of their local rivals. Meanwhile, the visitors need a strong performance to show that they can compete at the top of the league for another season.

It was a slow start for West Ham United this season. A lot was expected from the club after an ambitious summer of recruitment and the appointment of one-time Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini as manager. They are in the bottom-half of the table, but good performances against Chelsea and Manchester United showed their quality. It was a setback to lose against Brighton before the international break, but they will be motivated to bounce back on Saturday.

Tottenham have been on an upwards trajectory under Mauricio Pochettino since he was appointed as manager, but the first couple of months of the new season have been underwhelming. They aren’t being talked about as one of the title contenders and their Champions League status is already under threat. They haven’t been helped by a lack of new arrivals during the summer and an injury crisis. However, supporters will have been hoping for more from the current crop of players. A good performance on Saturday could kickstart their campaign.

Interesting stats

West Ham have only kept one clean sheet in the Premier League this season. That came against Chelsea.

Tottenham have scored in every match they have contested this season across all competitions.

Key men

Anderson

West Ham showed ambition during the summer with a number of high-profile arrivals. It was always likely to take time for the new signings to settle in at the club, but Felipe Anderson has already made an impression. The Brazilian has been tipped for big things for a long time and it was expected that he would end up at a bigger club. However, inconsistency plagued his game and his career started to stagnate at Lazio. The move to West Ham may only be seen as a stepping stone for the attacker, but it should provide the supporters with plenty of excitement during his time with the club. He has a goal and an assist to his name so far, but his overall contribution has been impressive. There is more to come from him and Saturday provides him with a stage to show his talent.

Kane

The England captain enjoys playing against West Ham. Kane has scored seven times against the Hammers and he will be looking to improve that record this weekend. A lot has been spoken about the striker and his level of performance this season. It is obvious that the amount of games he has been asked to play has affected his output. However, he gave a good performance for England against Spain, despite failing to get on the score-sheet. He is often a slow starter in campaigns and he will be looking to have more of an influence in the run-up to Christmas. West Ham haven’t been able to keep many clean sheets and Kane will be the player that they fear on Saturday.

Team news

Robert Snodgrass, Arthur Masuaku and Javier Hernandez are all doubts for the visit of Tottenham. Andy Carroll is closing in on a return, but he won’t be fit until the end of the month. Meanwhile, Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere remain on the sidelines.

It is hoped that Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele will be available for the visitors. Dele Alli is unlikely to feature, while Jan Vertonghen won’t return until December. Victor Wanyama and Danny Rose are both doubts.

Verdict

It is going to be difficult for Tottenham, especially if a couple of their important players aren’t back to take their place in the starting eleven. Pochettino’s men haven’t impressed this season and they will be at risk of dropping points against an improving West Ham team. There is likely to be goals on Saturday as both teams have strong attacks. A score draw looks to be a good bet, with the home advantage meaning West Ham should take something from the game.

West Ham 2-2 Tottenham

More News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here