A London derby will end the action on Tuesday when West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur clash at the London Stadium.
The games are coming thick and fast as we enter the final two months of the 2023/24 season. We begin Gameweek 31 of the Premier League on Tuesday, 48 hours after the previous round of fixtures ended. The latest matchday will begin with the game between Nottingham Forest and Fulham before West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur round off the action at the London Stadium.
West Ham United have blown hot and cold throughout the 2023/24 season. But they have fared much better in the Premier League, with a top-half finish on the cards after they flirted with relegation last term. The Hammers have done well in the UEFA Europa League, reaching the quarter-finals. However, David Moyes and his charges come into this game on the back of a three-game winless run in the top flight.
As for Tottenham Hotspur, they have been on a similar trajectory to West Ham. While Ange Postecoglou’s men have also been inconsistent, they have been much improved compared to last season. The North London giants are vying for a top-four finish, with fourth-placed Aston Villa three points ahead, having played a game more.
The reverse fixture saw West Ham coming from a goal down to beat Tottenham 2-1, with James Ward-Prowse scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
David Moyes has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, the West Ham United manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
Alphonse Areola is the latest absentee, with the Frenchman picking up a groin injury this past weekend against Newcastle United. In addition, Edson Alvarez remains on the sidelines due to a suspension. Meanwhile, Moyes is sweating over the fitness of Nayef Aguerd, who has been recovering from a knock.
Aguerd’s potential absence means Konstantinos Mavropanos and Kurt Zouma should pair up at the heart of the defence. Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Palmieri will likely start as the two full-backs, with Lukasz Fabianski deputising for Areola.
As for the midfield unit, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Lucas Paqueta will continue reprising the no. 10 role, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus being the two wide attackers. Finally, Michail Antonio will lead the line for West Ham against Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Ward-Prowse, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio
Tottenham Hotspur
Unlike his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Ange Postecoglou does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the London Stadium. The Tottenham manager will be without three first-team players on Tuesday.
Ryan Sessegnon is the long-term absentee, with the 23-year-old recovering from a hamstring injury. Fraser Forster (ankle) and Manor Solomon (knee) should return to the fold soon, with the duo likely to feature in the matchday squad in the coming weeks.
Guglielmo Vicario will take his spot between the sticks, with Tottenham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against West Ham United. The defensive unit should feature Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie.
As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma should pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. James Maddison will look to pull the strings in the final third, with Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson being the two wide attackers. Finally, Son Heung-min will spearhead the Tottenham attack on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma; Johnson, Maddison, Son; Richarlison
Key Stats
- West Ham United can look to complete a Premier League double over Tottenham Hotspur for the third time, previously doing so in 1998/99 and 2013/14.
- Tottenham have earned 22 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, with only Liverpool (26) securing more. Only in 2010/11 (24) and 2012/13 (23) did the North London club accumulate more such points in a single campaign in the competition.
- Five of Son Heung-min’s 15 league strikes this season have been the winning goal. No other player has more.
- James Ward-Prowse has either scored (4) or assisted (3) a goal in his last six Premier League games against Tottenham in this run. His ten goal involvements overall against Tottenham (six goals, four assists) is his most versus a single opponent in the competition.
- Jarrod Bowen has scored 15 Premier League goals this season. Only Paolo Di Canio (16 in 1999/00) has ever netted more in a single campaign for West Ham United.
Player to Watch
Timo Werner
James Maddison was an option for this section as he has not been at the races since returning from his injury layoff. But we have gone ahead with Timo Werner as he faces nine remaining finals in the Tottenham Hotspur kit to secure a permanent move in the summer transfer window.
Recent reports have claimed that the German international wants to permanently join the North London club in the summer transfer window. With Tottenham responding favourable to the notion, Werner needs to continue his good form to seal the deal, meaning Tuesday’s game is critical for him.
Prediction
West Ham United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Matches involving West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur have produced a lot of goals. The Hammers will be hurting from the defeat to Newcastle United after squandering a two-goal lead, while Tottenham did well to come back from a goal down to beat Luton Town.
So, expect a hard-fought contest between the two London clubs, giving us a fiery encounter as the minutes wear on. Eventually, there might not be much to separate the two sides, with the match stretching into the dying embers. In the end, Tottenham should have enough quality to clinch the three points, beating West Ham 2-1 at the London Stadium.
