Tottenham vs West Ham Preview
- Draw
- Both teams to score
Tottenham’s Inconsistent Start Under Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou’s second season at Tottenham has not gone as planned, with the club enduring its worst seven-game start to a Premier League season in 16 years (W3, D1, L3).
When Postecoglou confidently declared, “I always win things in my second year,” such a rocky beginning was certainly not part of the vision. Despite some promising victories, like a 3-0 win at Old Trafford, Spurs have struggled to find consistency, following up strong performances with disappointing results.
The latest setback was a 3-2 loss away to Brighton, where Tottenham squandered a 2-0 half-time lead. Postecoglou described it as “the worst” performance of his tenure, suggesting that the players might have let recent success go to their heads.
With the international break providing a pause, the coach will hope to stamp out any complacency and steer his team towards more consistent results.
West Ham’s Underwhelming Start and Away Resilience
West Ham United have also struggled in the early part of the season, albeit without the highs that Spurs have enjoyed. Their most recent match, a 4-1 thrashing of newly promoted Ipswich, was a much-needed win, but the Hammers still have significant ground to cover to reach the level expected of them.
They’ve taken fewer points from their first seven league games only once in the past five Premier League campaigns.
Interestingly, West Ham have been much more resilient on the road, collecting points in all three of their away matches this season (W1, D2) despite being the underdogs.
Manager Julen Lopetegui, who once turned down an opportunity to manage Tottenham, can see this fixture as another chance to pick up points away from home, especially after guiding West Ham to a 2-1 victory on their last visit to Tottenham in December 2023.
Key Players to Watch
James Maddison (Tottenham)
Maddison has found the net in two of his last three Premier League appearances, and he is just one goal away from scoring at least three goals by the end of round nine for the third consecutive season. His creativity and goal-scoring ability will be crucial for Spurs as they look to regain momentum.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
Kudus contributed to West Ham’s 4-1 win over Ipswich, and his performances have shown a tendency to be part of high-scoring affairs. Remarkably, 11 of his last 15 competitive club goal-scoring appearances have seen at least four match goals.
His attacking prowess could be a key asset for West Ham, especially in a game that may see plenty of action at both ends.
Conclusion
Tottenham will be keen to use this match to bounce back from their recent defeat and establish a more consistent run of form. With the international break offering a reset, Ange Postecoglou will hope to address the issues that have plagued his side and guide them back to winning ways.
West Ham, on the other hand, will look to capitalise on their solid away form and build on their recent positive result against Ipswich. Given both teams’ search for momentum, this match could be a hard-fought and competitive affair.
Prediction: A closely contested draw, with both sides likely to find the net but struggling to secure a decisive edge.
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