Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United – Premier League – Preview, Team News and Updates

The last Premier League game took place nearly a fortnight ago. In the meantime, football fans have kept themselves entertained by watching the ongoing Nations League and World Cup qualifiers. But now, the wait is over—Premier League football returns this weekend. And what better way to kick things off than with an enticing London derby? That’s right, West Ham are heading to North London for a showdown against Tottenham Hotspur.

Both London clubs have stumbled out of the gates in the 2024/25 season. While Spurs currently languish in mid-table with just 10 points from seven matches, the Hammers have fared even worse. They currently occupy 12th spot in Prem standings after accumulating just 8 points from seven games. For Hammers fans, these performances under Europa League-winning manager Julen Lopetegui are a far cry from expectations, especially after splashing out over £120 million on signings like Niclas Füllkrug, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Crysencio Summerville. Despite the hefty investment, West Ham have struggled to find their rhythm. 

Spurs, on the other hand, have shown flashes of brilliance under Ange Postecoglou, with many fans believing their slow start is more down to bad luck than poor play. There’s a growing sense that Tottenham are close to hitting their stride, but the time to deliver is now. That’s why Saturday’s lunchtime clash between Spurs and West Ham feels like a pivotal moment for both clubs as they look to turn their seasons around.  

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United – Match Preview 

A sixth successive win was on the cards for Tottenham at Amex Stadium a fortnight ago. Ange Postecoglou’s men were comfortably leading Brighton by a two-goal margin at halftime. However, Spurs capitulated and lost the game by a scoreline of 3-2. Goals from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck condemned Spurs to their worst start to a Premier League season since 2008/09. This game exposed Tottenham’s fragile underbelly. 

Ange has got Spurs fans on board with his all-guns blazing attacking approach, but without consistent victories, that goodwill could quickly fade. If the results don’t start matching the exciting performances, it’s only a matter of time before the frustration among supporters begins to surface. Postecoglou didn’t shy away from the truth after the Amex meltdown, calling it his toughest loss since stepping into the Spurs dugout. He’s vowed to turn things around, starting with a crucial home clash against a familiar thorn in Tottenham’s side—West Ham United. The Hammers have often caused headaches for Spurs in the past. It’s no wonder that some of the more superstitious and cautious Spurs fans aren’t exactly brimming with confidence ahead of this matchup. 

However, West Ham have been struggling to find their rhythm under Julen Lopetegui, with an even rougher start to the 2024/25 campaign than Spurs. Things need to change, and quickly, for Lopetegui and West Ham if they really are serious of challenging the Premier League’s ‘Big 6.’ Having said that, it looks like the Hammers are finally hitting their stride. Thier 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich at the Olympic Stadium has given the fanbase a much-needed confidence boost. But one result won't cut it—West Ham need consistency if they want to be taken seriously among the league's elite. Therefore, beating Spurs this weekend would send a powerful message that West Ham are ready to compete with the big boys. 

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United – Team News and Updates 

West Ham’s main injury concern is upfront, with summer signing Niclas Fullkrug still recovering from an Achilles issue. He missed Germany’s recent internationals, making him doubtful for the weekend clash against Spurs. However, Lopetegui will be reluctant to change a winning side, especially with Michail Antonio set to lead the line once more. Antonio, who has a habit of troubling Tottenham, boasts six career goals against them – more than he’s managed against any other team. His early goal against Ipswich was assisted by Jarrod Bowen, who made history in that match by becoming the first West Ham player to record five shots and create five chances in a Premier League game since Antonio did so against Arsenal in 2021. 

On the other hand, Spurs fans are anxiously awaiting updates on captain Son Heung-min’s fitness. Son, who was withdrawn from South Korea’s squad due to a thigh injury, remains hopeful of recovering in time for Saturday’s London derby. Alongside Son, Richarlison and Lucas Bergvall are also injury concerns, with the latter picking up a calf problem on Sweden duty, though he wasn’t expected to start anyway. Meanwhile, Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is still sidelined. Despite their dreadful second-half collapse against Brighton, Spurs are likely to stick with a similar lineup, though Timo Werner is expected to make way if Son is declared fit by the medical team. 

Tottenham’s Possible Starting XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son. 

West Ham’s Possible Starting XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio. 

Last Five Results of Tottenham and West Ham (Premier League) 

Tottenham: L, L, W, W, L 

West Ham: D, L, L, D, W 

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 19th October 2024 (Saturday) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The match will kick off at 5:00 PM (Indian Standard Time).  

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