Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

The Premier League returns with an interesting London derby as Tottenham Hotspur take on West Ham United in the early Saturday kick-off. Tottenham, coming off a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break, will be eager to bounce back in front of their home crowd. Ange Postecoglou’s men were in control for much of that game but suffered a late collapse, leaving them with much to ponder during the two-week hiatus.

Meanwhile, West Ham United head into the derby with renewed confidence after a morale-boosting 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich Town. Julen Lopetegui’s side will hope to carry that momentum into the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with pride and points at stake in this classic London rivalry.

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs looked poised for a sixth successive victory when Brennan Johnson and James Maddison fired them into a commanding two-goal lead against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. However, Spurs were left shell-shocked by a dramatic collapse in the second half. Yankuba Minteh sparked the Seagulls’ comeback just three minutes after the break, followed by Georginio Rutter’s equalizer, before former Arsenal man Danny Welbeck completed the turnaround to hand Brighton a stunning 3-2 win.

Ange Postecoglou, typically calm in the face of adversity, couldn’t hide his frustration after the match, calling it his most painful defeat since taking over as Tottenham manager. Despite their promising start under the Australian coach, Spurs have been inconsistent and now find themselves in ninth place, having lost three of their first seven Premier League games of the season.

Spurs’ unpredictability at home continues to baffle fans. Their last seven league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have followed a win-loss pattern, with their latest home outing resulting in a 3-1 triumph over Brentford. Superstitious supporters might be bracing themselves for another letdown, but Postecoglou will be determined to break that cycle and secure a much-needed victory against West Ham on Saturday.

Team News

Tottenham fans are eagerly awaiting news on the availability of captain Son Heung-min, who is battling a thigh issue ahead of their London derby clash with West Ham. Son had been called up for South Korea’s World Cup qualifiers but was forced to withdraw due to the injury, leaving his participation for Saturday in doubt. Both Richarlison and young midfielder Lucas Bergvall are also fitness concerns—Bergvall picked up a minor calf injury during his time with Sweden, though he wouldn’t be expected to start anyway.

While Spurs will likely keep a similar lineup to the one that suffered the second-half collapse against Brighton, Timo Werner is expected to make way for Son if the medical team gives the all-clear. Wilson Odobert, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, will not be involved this weekend.

West Ham

West Ham head into this game with confidence restored after their emphatic 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, snapping a five-game winless streak across all competitions. Michail Antonio wasted no time in giving the Hammers the lead with their fastest-ever Premier League goal, and despite an immediate response from Liam Delap, West Ham quickly took control. Goals from Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Lucas Paqueta sealed their first league win since late August, lifting them to 12th in the table, just two points behind Spurs.

Lopetegui must have breathed a sigh of relief as his side finally rediscovered their attacking spark. The Irons are unbeaten in their last three Premier League away matches, all of which have come against London rivals Brentford, Fulham, and Crystal Palace, with one win and two draws. This solid away form could give them belief as they visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they enjoyed a memorable 2-1 comeback victory last December.

However, West Ham will be aiming to break an old drought in this fixture. They haven’t won back-to-back away league games against Spurs since the mid-1960s—a time when England famously won the World Cup in between those two victories.

Team News

West Ham’s only injury concern ahead of this game is the absence of Niclas Fullkrug, who remains sidelined with an Achilles problem. The summer signing was also unavailable for Germany during the international break, making him doubtful for the weekend clash.

Lopetegui is unlikely to make any major changes to his starting lineup, especially after their resounding 4-1 victory over Ipswich.

Antonio, who has a remarkable record against Spurs with six goals (the most he has scored against any single opponent) will lead the line once again. Antonio’s opener against Ipswich came just 48 seconds into the match, with Bowen providing the assist. Bowen, in particular, was outstanding, becoming the first West Ham player since Antonio in 2021 to have five shots and create five chances in a Premier League game.

Conclusion

Both these team have demonstrated their ability to score goals, but their back lines haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory. Spurs are the favourites to win in front of their own crowd, but goals at both ends feels extremely likely. Possibly more than one at either end.

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Olympusbet