West Ham vs Tottenham: Harry Kane’s battle with Winston Reid the key to Spurs getting one over on London rivals
TWO London rivals who have struggled at their new homes meet on Saturday lunchtime as West Ham host Tottenham at the London Stadium.
The Hammers moved to their new arena last season but struggled to carry over their Upton Park form.
However, it was against Tottenham the London Stadium enjoyed its finest hour last term as Slaven Bilic’s men ended their rivals’ Premier League title hopes with a shock 1-0 win in May.
Spurs, meanwhile, had endured a tough start to life at Wembley Stadium until their 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last Wednesday.
However, a 0-0 draw with Swansea followed, meaning their Premier League duck at the national stadium was still very much alive.
Saturday’s lunch-time clash is the latest instalment in a rivalry which has rarely disappointed when it comes to incident, drama and controversy in recent years.
Our friends at Football Whispers preview the big game.
Key battle: Harry Kane v Winston Reid
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
AFTER failing to score in August, Spurs forward Kane got off the mark for the season after the international break with two in the 3-0 win over Everton last weekend.
In the process, he passed 100 goals for the north Londoners.
And the England international bagged a brace as Mauricio Pochettino’s side pulled off a shock win over Dortmund in their Champions League opener.
Standing in Kane’s way will be West Ham’s new-look back three. James Collins’ return to the side had coincided with some defensive improvement from the Hammers.
However, the veteran Welshman is likely to miss out with an ankle injury, meaning Winston Reid will be be West Ham’s defensive lynchpin.
The Kiwi was one of the most highly-rated centre-backs in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago but his form has nosedived with the Hammers’.
Potential match winners
KANE is Tottenham’s biggest threat. Last season’s Golden Boot winner has quickly made up for his now traditional August draught with four goals in three matches in September.
In ten matches against the Hammers, Kane has struck five times – there are only six other sides he has scored against more.
Dele Alli has also found the back of the net twice this season while Christian Eriksen is off the mark too and will be looking to break double figures once more.
The Hammers have struggled for goals this season, netting just four in their first five Premier League fixtures, and that is partially down to Manuel Lanzini’s injury-enforced absence.
The onus is on ex-Manchester United hitman Javier Hernandez, who has two since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, and Andy Carroll to find their shooting boots, and soon.
Managers’ tactics
WEST HAM coach Bilic realised something had to change after the Hammers were thumped 3-0 at Newcastle before the international break and switched to a back three when league action resumed.
Since ditching his preferred 4-2-3-1 system for a 3-4-3, the Croatian has overseen a 2-0 victory against Huddersfield and a goalless draw at West Brom.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have stuck with the 3-4-2-1 system which served them so well last season.
Serge Aurier came in for his debut against Dortmund and was impressive against the Bundesliga side.
But the Ivorian was back on the bench for Saturday’s clash against Swansea City with Kieran Trippier preferred.
The former PSG man will have to wait patiently to break into the side.
Likely line-ups
WEST HAM have several key men absent through injury, chiefly Lanzini who is sidelined with a knee problem.
Mark Noble (knee), Collins (ankle) and Edimilson Fernandes (ankle) are also doubts for the Hammers.
Spurs boss Pochettino has fewer worries, though wantaway defender Danny Rose (knee) and Victor Wanyama (knee) are both out.
Erik Lamela is still plagued by a mystery hip problem while fellow forgotten man Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (foot) is a doubt.
On the left, Ben Davies could return to the starting XI in place of Heung-min Son.
Key stats
ALTHOUGH Kane has five goals in just six appearances for Spurs against West Ham they have all come at White Hart Lane.
The England international has never scored away at the Hammers.
The east London outfit have won four of the last six meetings against Spurs at home – be it Upton Park or the London Stadium – with three of those games ending 1-0 to the hosts.
Now check out the seven biggest talking points from this weekend's Premier League action, including Roy Hodgson, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs.