TOTTENHAM are taking on West Ham today in a huge London derby.
Spurs and the Hammers both have an outside chance of reaching the Champions League but the two sides will need a victory here if they are to stay in the hunt.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm
- TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League
- Live stream: Sky Go/Now TV
- Tottenham XI: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Reguilon, Son, Kulusevski, Kane.
- West Ham XI: Fabianski, Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Creswell, Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Lanzini, Masuaku, Antonio.
Fans have part to play
Antonio Conte spoke about the part he wants their twelfth man to play today against West Ham.
It would be very important to have a fantastic atmosphere around us in the stadium. Our fans, they have to play an important part in the game. Like all the other games they can help us by pushing us from the start until the end, to create a fantastic atmosphere around us. It’ll be very important for us.
Antonio Conte
Consistency is key
The one thing that seems to frustrate Antonio Conte the most about his team is how massively inconsistent their form can be.
He will be hoping they can win back to back Premier League games for the first time in 2022.
West Ham subs:
13. Areola, 24. Fredericks, 23. Diop, 16. Noble, 33. Kral, 11. Vlasic, 8. Fornals, 64. Perkins, 7. Yarmolenko
West Ham starting XI:
Two changes for The Hammers with Fabianski returning in goal and Masuaku coming in for Fornals.
It will be interesting to see how they line up with the outfield change.
1. Fabianski, 31. Johnson, 15. Dawson, 4. Zouma, 3. Cresswell, 26. Masuaku, 41. Rice, 28. Soucek, 10. Lanzini, 22. Benrahma, 9. Antonio
Credit: @WestHam Tottenham subs:
6. Sanchez, 8. Winks, 12. Emerson Royal, 14. Rodon, 22. Gollini, 23. Bergwijn, 27. Lucas Moura, 42. White, 44. Scarlett.
Tottenham starting XI:
Antonio Conte names the same side that beat Brighton in the week.
Keeping the in-form front three of Kulusevski, Son and Kane together.
1. Lloris, 4. Romero, 15. Dier, 33. Davies, 2. Doherty, 30. Bentancur, 5. Hojbjerg, 3. Reguilon, 21. Kulusevski, 7. Son Heung-Min, 10. Kane
Credit: @SpursOfficial Times are changing
West Ham have come up trumps in the last two Premier League meetings with Spurs, both of which were in front of their own fans.
They lost 2-1 in North London in the EFL Cup quarter-finals back in December and will certainly not be at peak fitness after two hours of gruelling Thursday night action.
Spurs having had an extra day’s rest after beating Brighton 0-2 on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Qualification push remains tight
West Ham sit one place better off than Tottenham in sixth but are only above their North London rivals courtesy of a better goal difference.
Each of the Hammers’ last three games away from home in all tournaments has ended in defeat.
Victory today would see Tottenham leapfrog their opponents while still having a game in hand over them.
Battle for Europe continues
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is basking in some spring sunshine today as Antonio Conte’s side welcome West Ham.
Both sides are keen to push for European qualification with David Moyes’ team still involved in the Europa League with a quarter-final tie against Lyon to look forward to.
Moyes set for challenge
David Moyes told the media his thoughts on such a quick turnaround having only played Sevilla on Thursday evening.
We’re a resilient group of players and we hope that we’ll all be fine and we’ll go again. I think an extra day would help anybody, but we’re pleased we’re in the Europa League and that we’ve qualified. I’d have taken that any day and now we’ll get ready for the Tottenham game.
David Moyes
Front line firing
Harry Kane is aiming to score in five successive Premier League matches for the first time.
Son Heung-min has six goals and one assist in his last seven top-flight home games.
Spurs have won eight and lost eight of their 16 matches in 2022.
Hammers upsetting the odds
West Ham could win three consecutive league matches against Spurs for the first time since 1999.
The Hammers are looking to complete a Premier League double over Spurs for the third time.
Conte’s side have lost two of their last three top-flight home games.
Fortune favours the brave
Tottenham have lost two of their last 19 top-flight games with West Ham (W10, D7)
Harry Kane has 8 goals in 6 Premier League games vs West Ham.
Spurs have suffered defeat in five of their seven Premier League London derbies this season.
Welcome to Tottenham vs West Ham
Today we have a London derby to wet the appetite as Tottenham take on West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
David Moyes’ side come into this game fresh from their Europa League extra time victory over Sevilla on Thursday.
Spurs are still hoping to chase down rivals Arsenal in their hunt for Champions League football, currently sitting six points behind the fourth-placed team.
Ryan Sessegnon (thigh) and Oliver Skipp (groin) are still unavailable for Antonio Conte’s team while Japhet Tanganga is out for the season after surgery on his right knee.
West Ham will continue to assess those involved in Thursday’s Europa League tie prior to today’s game.
Jarrod Bowen is still sidelined with a heel injury while full-back Vladimir Coufal is recovering from a hernia op.
Angelo Ogbonna is also not available for The Hammers as he recovers from an operation also.
Moyes is sure to consider some alterations despite the magnitude of the contest, with West Ham having less than 72 hours to recover after 120 minutes in Europe, as Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaka provide alternative options in defence.
Both sides are currently on the same number of points in their chase for European qualification, with fourth place firmly in their sights still.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
