Premier League: London Pride and Points at Stake

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United

This is a Premier League game between two sides who can ill afford a defeat, yet will not benefit too much from a draw either.

Amidst that backdrop, I am expecting Premier League 2022 highlights in North London this Sunday afternoon.

Points are at stake and key ones at that as the battle for a Champions League berth hots up.

Talking Points

Tottenham will remember this contest last season but not for fond reasons as they let slip a huge lead.

In fact, in one of the games of the season, West Ham came back from three goals down with under 10 minutes to go to rescue a point in an astonishing comeback – all this after the hosts, then managed by Jose Mourinho, had gone three up within 16 minutes.

How they would relish such a start – without the dramatic late collapse – this weekend in a race which seems destined to go all the way for that lucrative fourth and final spot.

While Tottenham now managed by Antonio Conte were battling it out on the south coast with Brighton in midweek, West Ham were entertaining and defeating Sevilla thrillingly in the Europa League.

Those exertions must have taken a lot out of the players with manager David Moyes knowing his squad is lacking the depth of the sides around them in the race for a top four finish.

Michail Antonio, who has a great record against Spurs  with 10 goals in 10 games, and Aaron Cresswell returned late fitness tests ahead of that clash and it remains to be seen whether they can play another match in quick succession.

If that is not enough, Moyes has a selection dilemma to wrestle with after it emerged defender Kurt Zouma and his brother are likely to face a day in court following the video of him slapping and kicking his pet cat.

On saying that, it would be a surprise if such a key member of the squad is dropped, certainly until the court process is completed.

The Hammers have genuinely struggled away from home against leading clubs this term and their last-gasp defeat Old Trafford in January saw them relinquish fourth place from which they have not returned.

Another such defeat against their London rivals may make it a jump too far.

History

Traditionally, Spurs have won 99 of their meetings with West Ham winning 66 and the other 53 ending with honours even.

Aside from a fierce rivalry, this is a history steeped in tradition, prestige, and attacking football.

West Ham have proven a bit of a bogey for Spurs in big games over the last decade or so (both Premier League and League Cup), although only once in the last eight years have they defeated Tottenham on their own turf in the top-flight.

Yet in the League Cup they have beaten Spurs twice at home in the past decade.

In December 2013, late goals from Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga sealed a 2-1 win after Emmanuel Adebayor had put Tottenham in front at White Hart Lane.

They produced an even better comeback in 2017 in a match played at Wembley Stadium. Then Andre Ayew scored twice before Angelo Ogbonna netted the winner in a 3-2 success after Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli had put Spurs in the ascendancy.

When the sides met in the league in October, West Ham ran out deserved 1-0 winners thanks to Antonio.

Spurs did beat the Hammers in December though in the League Cup, courtesy of Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura goals with Jarrod Bowen replying.

Betting Tip

It’s Tottenham all the way with the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds.

You can tip the hosts to triumph 1X2 @ 1.76 or Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.98.

Likewise, the Hammers are available to back at an attractive 1X2 @ 4.20 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.20.

The 1X2 Draw @ 3.80 may appeal, less so a repeat of the corresponding fixture last season, even though Correct Score 3-3 will pay out at a tasty @ 75.00.

There are usually goals in these encounters and among the bets to catch my eye are Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.96 and 4-6 @ 3.15.

Then there is Over 2.75 goals @ 2.00 which is where I was going to plump.

In the end though, this is a contest I expect Spurs to win especially after West Ham’s extra-time European exertions on Thursday night.

 

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