West Ham vs Tottenham: Premier League Clash at the London Stadium – Match Preview
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Venue: London Stadium, London
Kick-off: 17:30 BST
Current Form and League Standings
Looking at the early season table, there's a bit of a contrast in how these two sides are doing. Tottenham are currently sitting a bit prettier with two wins and just one loss, while West Ham's form has been a bit all over the place, with one win and two defeats in their opening matches. That fantastic 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest last time out was a huge confidence booster for the Hammers, but Spurs will be licking their wounds after a surprising 1-0 loss to Bournemouth and will be hungry for a response. One big concern for West Ham has been their leaky defense, letting in 8 goals in just three league games – a stark contrast to Tottenham's rock-solid 1 goal conceded.
Team News and Injuries
West Ham: Graham Potter has a few headaches to deal with. Star striker Niclas Füllkrug is questionable after picking up a calf strain while away on international duty. Luis Guilherme is still out with a broken collarbone, and George Earthy is sidelined with an ankle injury. On a brighter note, new signings Igor Julio and Soungoutou Magassa could be making their debuts, which would be exciting!
Tottenham: Oh boy, Spurs are in the middle of a serious injury crisis. They're missing some big names long-term, including James Maddison (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Radu Dragusin (ACL), and Kota Takai (foot). There are also doubts surrounding Dominic Solanke (ankle) and Yves Bissouma (unspecified issue). However, there's a silver lining with new recruits Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available and potentially set for their debuts – that would be a much-needed boost to their attacking options!
West Ham Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Lukasz Fabiański (GK)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB), Max Kilman (CB), Konstantinos Mavropanos (CB), Soungoutou Magassa (LB)
Tomáš Souček (CM), James Ward-Prowse (CM)
Lucas Paquetá (AM), Jarrod Bowen (RW), Crysencio Summerville (LW)
Callum Wilson (ST)
Tottenham Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Guglielmo Vicario (GK)
Pedro Porro (RB), Cristian Romero (CB), Micky van de Ven (CB), Djed Spence (LB)
João Palhinha (CM), Rodrigo Bentancur (CM)
Mohammed Kudus (RW), Pape Matar Sarr (AM), Xavi Simons (LW)
Richarlison (ST)
Key Players to Watch
West Ham – Lucas Paquetá: The Brazilian midfielder is a key creative force for the Hammers. He has already scored in his last two domestic games and his ability to unlock defenses will be crucial against a well-organized Tottenham backline.
Tottenham – Richarlison & Xavi Simons: With key players out, the pressure will be on Richarlison, who has already scored two goals and provided one assist this season, to lead the line. The potential debut of Xavi Simons could be a game-changer, with the young Dutchman's creativity and dribbling ability offering a new dimension to the Spurs attack.
Head-to-Head and Tactical Insights
In 61 total matches between the two clubs since 1995, Tottenham have the historical advantage with 27 wins to West Ham's 20, with 14 draws. However, recent Premier League meetings at the London Stadium have been kind to the Hammers, with the last three encounters all ending in a 1-1 draw.
Tactically, West Ham's Graham Potter will be looking to build on their recent 3-0 win and take advantage of Spurs' injury woes. He will likely rely on the home crowd and a solid defensive shape to frustrate the visitors. Spurs' new manager Thomas Frank will look to his team to bounce back from their recent loss by controlling possession and utilizing the pace of their wingers to exploit West Ham's defensive frailties.
Betting Tips and Prediction
Betting Odds Overview: Tottenham are slight favorites, but the odds reflect the unpredictable nature of a London derby.
Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) - Yes: This is a strong bet given the recent form of both teams. West Ham's defensive vulnerabilities and their recent scoring form at home, coupled with Tottenham's attacking firepower, make goals at both ends highly likely. In eight of the last nine meetings between these sides, both teams have scored.
Over 2.5 Goals: Five of West Ham's last six competitive games have seen over 2.5 goals. Given the attacking talent on display and West Ham's poor defensive record, a high-scoring match is a strong possibility.
Richarlison to Score Anytime: The Brazilian has started the season in strong form with two goals and one assist in three Premier League games. Leading the line for Spurs, he is well-placed to find the net.
Prediction:
This derby is always a closely-contested affair. West Ham's morale will be high after their recent win, but Tottenham's attacking options, even with key players injured, could be too much for the Hammers' shaky defense. While West Ham have a strong home record against Spurs in recent years, Tottenham's desire to bounce back from their loss could be the deciding factor.
Our Predicted Score: West Ham 1-2 Tottenham
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