By Conor Hogan
West Ham face Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon in an all-important Premier League clash in North London.
Given the Hammers’ current predicament, every fixture feels like a must-win, but supporters would be especially grateful for three points this weekend considering the opposition. Spurs thrashed West Ham 3–0 at London Stadium back in September, and revenge would be sweet.
The Irons are seven points from safety following a gut-wrenching defeat to Nottingham Forest in their last league outing and have now been winless in the Premier League since November.
However, they come up against a Tottenham side also in dreadful form. Thomas Frank’s team have managed just one win in their last twelve league games, a run that has seen them slump to 14th in the table.
This is a game West Ham can target. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have a respectable record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning there in both 2019 and 2023, as well as earning a memorable comeback draw in 2020.
The Hammers will be boosted by the return of Aaron Wan-Bissaka following his AFCON involvement with DR Congo. However, fellow defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is expected to miss out after sustaining an injury against QPR in last weekend’s FA Cup tie.
New signing Taty Castellanos is expected to start after opening his account in that cup match. Pablo Felipe, who replaced Mavropanos during that game, could also make his first Premier League start.
Lucas Paquetá’s future remains uncertain. The Brazilian was left out of Nuno’s squad against QPR and could again be omitted, with strong reports linking him to a move away from London Stadium. Callum Wilson is also expected to miss out amid similar speculation.
On the other side, former Hammer Mohammed Kudus is likely to start for Spurs against his old club. Nuno may deploy Wan-Bissaka on the left to counter the Ghanaian, with Kyle Walker-Peters potentially operating at right-back.
Given the form and inconsistency of both teams, it is difficult to predict how the contest will unfold. West Ham will hope their recent FA Cup win can provide some momentum as they attempt to claw their way back towards safety.
This squad has been criticised for a lack of character throughout the season. With survival on the line and a London derby at stake, Saturday presents an opportunity to change that narrative. A victory could reignite belief among supporters who are desperately searching for something to cling to.
Kick-off is at 3pm in North London.