Two Premier League teams wey managers dey under pressure go clash for North London on Saturday as Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur go host Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United. Spurs dey aim complete league double over Hammers for first time since 2019-20 after dem win 3-0 at London Stadium in September.
Match Preview
Tottenham no too dey smile since the turn of year as dem never win for 2026 after draw with Sunderland (1-1) and Bournemouth (3-2), then lose 2-1 to Aston Villa in FA Cup last weekend. Wilson Odobert second-half strike pull one back for Spurs, but dem no fit restore parity and crash out FA Cup third round first time since 2013-14.
Another setback at home don pile more pressure on Frank, wey struggle get best from Spurs wey don win only four of last 24 PL home games (D6 L14). Their two home wins this season na lowest ever after 10 matches for league campaign.
Tottenham dey 14th for Premier League, six points behind Frank former club Brentford (5th), but dem don lose only one of last eight league matches with West Ham (D3 L4). Keeping clean sheet fit key for victory as six of seven PL wins this season na without reply. Dem don only win one of last 21 top-flight games when dem concede at least once (D6 L14) – beating Leeds 2-1 in October.
West Ham 14-year spell for Premier League dey in danger as dem dey 18th, seven points adrift of safety after 2-1 home defeat to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Hammers dey winless last 10 top-flight games (D4 L6) – longest streak without win since Dec 2006-Mar 2007, dem lose 4-3 to Tottenham for 11th game back then. Nuno Espirito Santo don win only three of 17 matches as West Ham boss since replacing Graham Potter in September, latest win 2-1 extra-time vs QPR for FA Cup last weekend.
West Ham fans fit worry about defence as dem never keep clean sheet in last 19 matches in all competitions. PL, dem concede most headed goals (11) this season, only Arsenal (9) and Spurs (9) score more headers than Spurs.
Dem also concede more goals from corners than any PL team (12), while Spurs score most from corners (11). On positive note, Nuno don win three of last five away league games vs Spurs, including 2-1 with Nottingham Forest in April last season.
Team News
Tottenham boss Frank don confirm Richarlison go miss seven weeks with hamstring problem, joining Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (ACL) and Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring) for treatment room.
Pape Sarr dey AFCON with Senegal, but Spurs don sign £34.7m Conor Gallagher for January and him fit make debut. Lucas Bergvall fit return from knock, but unlikely start, so Gallagher fit join midfield with Joao Palhinha and Archie Gray. Cristian Romero dey back from suspension to pair with Micky van de Ven. Dominic Solanke fitness still dey confirm after six-month injury layoff.
West Ham, El Hadji Malick Diouf dey AFCON with Senegal, Konstantinos Mavropanos remain sidelined with neck injury, joining Lukasz Fabianski (back). Mateus Fernandes dey assessed, Lucas Paqueta (back) doubt, reportedly wan leave club amid Flamengo interest.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka don return from AFCON, likely start RB. Max Kilman expected replace injured Mavropanos, play alongside Jean-Clair Todibo. January signing Pablo Felipe fit start behind Valentin Castellanos, wey score first goal for club vs QPR.
Possible Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Palhinha; Simons, Gallagher, Tel; Kolo Muani
West Ham United: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles; Magassa, Soucek; Bowen, Pablo, Summerville; Castellanos
Prediction
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United
Saturday fixture na important one for both teams wey dey desperate to claim three points for different reasons. While Spurs home record no too sweet, dem still be favourites. West Ham get boost with Wan-Bissaka return and new attack-minded signings, but defensive weakness go cost dem. We dey back Spurs to outscore visitors this time.
