The West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur rivalry is one of the fiercest in English football. As two of London’s top clubs, there’s no love lost between the Hammers and Spurs.
West Ham and Tottenham are original members of the Premier League, giving the rivalry decades to build. With the teams frequently competing for similar positions in the table, and contesting derby matches with local bragging rights on the line, games between West Ham and Spurs always have an added intensity.
Supporters of both clubs relish the chance to get one over on their rival. There’s a deep sense of pride and history connected to this fixture.
Premier League Table Positions
West Ham and Tottenham currently find themselves in contrasting positions in the Premier League table ahead of their upcoming clash.
West Ham have exceeded expectations so far this season and sit in 5th place after 25 matches played. The Hammers have accumulated 42 points, just 2 points behind 4th placed Manchester United. After finishing 16th last season, West Ham have massively improved under manager David Moyes and have their sights set on a shock Champions League qualification spot.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have had an underwhelming campaign and are down in 8th position with 39 points from 24 games. It’s been an inconsistent season for Spurs under new manager Antonio Conte. They had hoped to challenge for a top 4 finish but find themselves 9 points behind Manchester United in 4th, albeit with a game in hand. Tottenham will be looking to string together a run of wins to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.
Recent Form
West Ham and Tottenham come into this match with contrasting recent form. The Hammers are struggling, having lost 3 of their last 5 Premier League matches. Their only wins in that run came against fellow strugglers Everton and Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Tottenham seem to have regained their form under Antonio Conte. Spurs have won 4 of their last 5 league games, only dropping points in a draw against Liverpool.
Tottenham’s resurgence has seen them climb the table up to 5th position. They now have aspirations of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. West Ham, on the other hand, has dropped down to 18th after their poor run of results. The Hammers are currently in the relegation zone and desperate need of points.
The recent trajectories of both teams could not be more different. Tottenham looks like a team full of confidence, while West Ham seems to be severely lacking in self-belief. This contrast in form lines up for an intriguing derby clash.
Head-to-Head Record
West Ham and Tottenham have a long history of facing each other, with their first meeting taking place in 1899. Since then, the two London rivals have played each other 177 times across all competitions.
In the Premier League era, West Ham and Tottenham have met 60 times. The overall head-to-head record is relatively even, with Tottenham having won 24 times, West Ham winning 22 times, and 14 matches ending in a draw.
Last season, West Ham did the league double over Tottenham, winning 1-0 at the London Stadium in October 2021 and 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February 2022. Those wins were instrumental in West Ham qualifying for the Europa League while Tottenham missed out on Champions League football.
Before last season, Tottenham had been on a strong run against the Hammers, winning 5 straight Premier League matches between 2020 and 2021. Some of Spurs’ biggest wins include a 3-0 victory in November 2020 and a resounding 3-1 win at the London Stadium in June 2020.
Historically, matches between these two London rivals have produced plenty of goals and entertainment. With both teams evenly matched this season, their upcoming league encounter at the London Stadium is likely to be another thrilling, competitive battle.
Key Players
Both West Ham and Tottenham have talented players that can make an impact in this London derby.
West Ham
- Declan Rice – The English midfielder has been a standout for West Ham this season. At just 23 years old, Rice already shows leadership and composure beyond his years in the center of the park.
- Jarrod Bowen – The lively winger has been West Ham’s top scorer this season with 8 league goals. His pace and direct running causes problems for defenses.
- Lucas Paquetá – The Brazilian playmaker signed from Lyon this summer has added creativity and flair to West Ham’s attack. He’ll look to pull the strings against Spurs.
Tottenham
- Harry Kane – The English striker is always a threat in front of goal. Kane has found form recently, scoring 6 goals in his last 5 matches across all competitions. His link up play with Son is world class.
- Son Heung-min – The South Korean winger has been Tottenham’s standout performer this season, with 8 goals and 3 assists in the league so far. His speed and clinical finishing make him a constant danger.
- Rodrigo Bentancur – The Uruguayan midfielder has brought steel and tenacity to the Spurs midfield since joining in January. He’ll aim to break up West Ham’s play.
Both teams have game-changing attacking talent that can decide the derby. The key battles across the pitch will likely determine the outcome.
Managers
David Moyes began his managerial career with Preston North End in the late 1990s before moving to Everton in 2002. He spent over 10 years with the Toffees, leading them to multiple top-half Premier League finishes. In 2013, Moyes was appointed manager of Manchester United, replacing the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. However, his time at Old Trafford was short-lived and unsuccessful.
After being sacked by United, Moyes went on to manage Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham United. He initially joined West Ham in 2017 and helped them avoid relegation. Moyes returned for a second spell as West Ham manager in December 2019 and has since guided them to consecutive top 7 finishes in the Premier League.
Antonio Conte is one of the most decorated managers in Europe in recent years. He led Juventus to three consecutive Serie A titles between 2011 2014 before taking charge of the Italian national team. In 2016, Conte was appointed manager of Chelsea and in his first season, he led them to the Premier League title, only a year after they had finished 10th.
After departing Chelsea, Conte joined Inter Milan in 2019 and within two years he guided them to their first Serie A title in over a decade, breaking Juventus’ dominance. In November 2021, he was hired as Tottenham manager. Conte has won major trophies in Italy, England, and Europe and will be looking to bring that winning mentality to Spurs.
Tactical Analysis
West Ham and Tottenham have faced each other twice already this season, once in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup.
In their Premier League meeting earlier this season, West Ham manager David Moyes opted for a 5-4-1 formation, sitting deep and looking to frustrate Tottenham. Spurs boss Antonio Conte started with his usual 3-4-3 system but struggled to break down the Hammers’ low block. West Ham took the lead from a set piece before Tottenham equalized late on through an own goal.
For the Carabao Cup match, Moyes went with a 4-2-3-1 shape while Conte made several changes to his side, lining up in a 4-3-3. West Ham were much more positive in their approach and caused Spurs problems on the counter-attack. The match finished 1-1 after extra time and West Ham won on penalties.
Given their success frustrating Spurs with a deep defensive shape earlier this season, Moyes may opt for a similar approach in this match. However, with home advantage, he could also go for a more balanced setup. Conte is unlikely to deviate from his 3-4-3 system but may make personnel changes depending on availability.
The key tactical battles will be how well Spurs can break down West Ham’s defense and the threat Michail Antonio poses on the counterattack for the Hammers. Both managers will want to avoid losing, so tactics and team selection will be aimed at minimizing risks.
Match Predictions
Both teams will likely field strong starting lineups as this is a crucial London derby with implications for European qualification spots.
West Ham’s predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio
Tottenham’s predicted starting XI (3-4-2-1): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Reguilón; Kulusevski, Son; Kane
This should be an entertaining match between two attacking teams. West Ham will look to use the counterattack through the pace of Bowen and Antonio. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s front three of Kulusevski, Son, and Kane have been in stellar form.
With both teams evenly matched, a draw seems the most likely result. Predicted scoreline: West Ham 1-1 Tottenham. Both teams to get on the scoresheet but share the points.
What’s at Stake
The London derby between West Ham and Tottenham always has high stakes no matter where the teams sit in the Premier League table. With the two clubs separated by just 1 point and vying for a top 4 finish, this match carries even greater significance.
West Ham currently sits in 5th place, just outside the Champions League positions, while Tottenham is in 4th. A win for West Ham would see them leapfrog Spurs in the standings. Meanwhile, Tottenham wants to hold on to that coveted 4th spot to secure Champions League football next season.
Beyond the implications in the league table, there is plenty of pride and bragging rights on the line whenever these two crosstown rivals meet. West Ham will be eager to get one over on Tottenham in front of their home fans at the London Stadium. Tottenham won’t want to give their rivals the satisfaction.
With so much at stake in terms of points, positioning, and prestige, this match is shaping up to be a must-watch London derby. Both teams will be fired up to claim the spoils in this critical battle for a top 4 finish.
Conclusion
Sunday’s London derby between West Ham and Tottenham is shaping up to be an exciting and highly competitive match. Both teams come into the game in good form, with West Ham unbeaten in their last five and Tottenham winning four of their last five. Visit our Website Time Speed Magazine.
The head-to-head record shows these two sides are closely matched, with their last five meetings resulting in two wins for West Ham, two wins for Spurs, and one draw. Home advantage could play a role, with the Hammers boasting an impressive record at the London Stadium this season.
Key battles to watch will be Rice vs Hojbjerg in midfield, and Kane vs Zouma in attack. Antonio and Son also have the potential to make a major impact if given space. Ultimately, this game could go either way.
West Ham will be hoping to solidify their spot in the top four with a win. For Spurs, a victory would see them leapfrog Arsenal into fifth. With so much on the line for both teams, expect a tense and action-packed affair. Fans should be treated to an excellent display of Premier League football between two talented squads.
