Premier League preview: West Ham v Tottenham
It’s been their worst start ever to a top-flight campaign, but against Stoke City last weekend and against Sunderland in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, there were plenty of signs to suggest West Ham are poised to turn the corner.
The Hammers secured their first victory away from home since August 2009 against Sunderland in mid-week, which was also their first win since that underwhelming, hollow 1-0 victory over Oxford United in the Carling Cup last month.
However, they face a tough task on Saturday afternoon to seal their first Premier League match of the season. The Upton Park faithful will do their best to intimidate the visiting Tottenham players, but it’s the West Ham players who must let their football do the talking.
Spurs are currently sitting comfortably in fifth place with two wins and two draws from their opening five matches, while they were also impressive on their Champions League debut against Werder Bremen a fortnight ago, but a 4-1 extra-time defeat against fierce rivals Arsenal in Tuesday night’s Carling Cup fixture could prove a potential setback.
Their recent record against the Hammers is impressive, though. Tottenham have beaten their London counterparts in their last five league meetings, and haven’t lost to West Ham since May 2006 – the infamous Lasagne-gate fixture.
Under-pressure West Ham boss Avram Grant is currently walking a thin tightrope with the club’s board and supporters. Nothing would appease them more than a first league win of the season over their high-flying rivals.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their shock Carling Cup defeat against Northampton Town, with a home win over 11th placed Sunderland.
The Reds haven’t enjoyed a good start under the leadership of Roy Hodgson. Just one point is currently keeping them adrift of the relegation zone, meaning that a home win over the Black Cats is now imperative.
Steve Bruce’s men are not particularly good travellers, which bodes well for Liverpool. Away from home, Sunderland have won just two of their last 31 Premier League matches. Defender Titus Bramble was the centre of some rather serious allegations this week but is set to feature against Liverpool this weekend. He’ll be braced for a tough afternoon at Anfield, and will need to display mental toughness to keep Fernando Torres and co at bay.
If you’re looking for goals this Saturday, then look no further than the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal host West Brom, and the expectant home crowd will be demanding goals, goals and more goals. Arsène Wenger’s side are particularly ruthless against the league’s smaller clubs, although the Baggies have been rather impressive at the start of the season.
Renowned for their inability to stay in a division for more than one season, West Brom could surprise a few people this year on the evidence of their first five matches.
Roberto Di Matteo’s side have been quietly going about their business and sit in 10th place before their trip to north London. Defending resolutely must be their primary concern. After what happened to Blackpool last month when they attempted to take the game to Arsenal at the Emirates, the Baggies must be content to stifle their talented opponents to get anything from the game.
From one set of over-achievers to a set of under-achievers, Everton currently find themselves second to bottom of the Premier League table with two points from their opening five matches.
There were rumours on Thursday that David Moyes had left Goodison Park, which later turned out to be entirely inaccurate, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson described the Toffees’ plight as the biggest surprise of the season.
The Merseyside outfit travel to the capital this weekend to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage. Mark Hughes was left incensed during Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat against Stoke after striker Moussa Dembele was stretched off and, as a result, is without an out-and-out goalscorer for this weekend’s match.
Moyes will view this as the perfect chance to seal a crucial first win of the season. They’ve not even played particularly badly this season, but it’s points that matter, and Everton must get back to winning ways against the Cottagers.
Elsewhere, everybody’s favourite newly-promoted side, Blackpool, host Blackburn in an intriguing mid-table clash at Bloomfield Road.
And 12th-placed Birmingham City play the team with the Premier League’s worst goal difference, Wigan Athletic.
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