Tottenham and West Ham’s London derby this weekend has never had more relevance. In the shadows of Chelsea and Arsenal in the capital and of other, bigger fixtures this weekend, the Lilywhites and Hammers have the luxury of minimal external pressure.
Spurs need a result, simply. With Champions League elimination likely and four consecutive Premier League draws, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are at risk of losing pace within the top four. Their unbeaten league record will be spoken of tirelessly, but another draw against West Ham would be insufficient for their aims this season.
Slaven Bilic’s side, despite what looked to be an upturn in form, are lingering only just above the relegation zone. After their overachievement in 2015/16, the Irons have won three of their opening 11 Premier League games. A tightly packed mid-table makes upward mobility very plausible, but goal scoring woe has blighted their season. Five goals in their last six games does not suggest a side that is ready to succeed against the Premier League’s meanest defence.
The difference between these two teams is not as vast as their league placings suggest. Spurs’ 4-1 thrashing of the Hammers just under a year ago only adds to the motivation for Bilic’s squad. Tottenham’s pivotal 1-0 defeat against their London rivals is a better reflection of what we can expect on Saturday afternoon. A cagey affair, settled by one goal either way, is likely with both managers aware of how much they have to lose.
The outcome of this match could go a long way to defining the expectations for each club this season. A daunting run of upcoming fixtures for West Ham means momentum is required; defeat at White Hart Lane on Saturday will make the matches against Manchester United and Arsenal look that notch harder. Bilic cannot afford to see his side slip into the bottom three – he must be ruing failure to turn draws into victories against Middlesbrough and Stoke City.
Ahead of a make or break trip to Monaco in the Champions League, Pochettino is in a similar position. Defeat could see Spurs fall to eight points adrift at the top of the Premier League table, with a trip to in-form Chelsea approaching. Expectation for Pochettino and Bilic this season has been heightened by their own overachievement last season, but – however you look at it – they are both struggling at this point.
A top half finish was the bare minimum for West Ham at the start of this campaign, just as a top four finish was for Spurs. Those expectations make this game the crucial match that it is. With the additional motivation of a London rivalry, this match is enormous. A win for either side has the potential to change the whole direction of their campaign.
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