Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to bounce back on their return to action as they play host to London rivals West Ham United in Saturday’s early Premier League kick-off.
Once again, Spurs went into the international break on the back of an incredibly disappointing result, with Ange Postecoglou having had to stew over what happened.
Tottenham led 2-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, only to completely capitulate as the Seagulls surged back for a 3-2 win.
They’ll be up against a West Ham outfit that had a tricky start to the season but is now in high spirits after their 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.
Julen Lopetegui’s Hammers are now unbeaten in two after picking up a 1-1 draw at Brentford ahead of the Ipswich match.
The Spurs News looks at what the nation’s pre-match prediction pundits have said about Tottenham ahead of the game and who they expect to win.
Alan Shearer: Narrow Tottenham win
Shearer, writing on Metro, backed Spurs to secure a narrow win over the Hammers.
“This is a big game for Ange Postecoglou,” wrote Shearer. “It’s a huge game for Spurs after what happened to them last time at Brighton.
“He has said himself that the biggest disappointment of his Spurs reign so far was the way they crumbled when winning 2-0 last time out.
“West Ham will take some encouragement from that performance; they can be brave, and they might believe they can get something out of the game.
“Ange will be looking and demanding a real performance after what happened in the last game, and because of that, I’ll go for Tottenham to edge it, just.”
Chris Sutton: Tottenham 3-1 West Ham
Sutton, writing on BBC Sport, has backed Tottenham to run out 3-1 winners over West Ham.
“West Ham got the win they needed against Ipswich before the international break, but it was a very different story for Tottenham against Brighton,” wrote Sutton.
“It is typical, really, because everyone had been singing Ange Postecoglou’s praises following Spurs’ win at Manchester United the previous week, talking about how he had built a team with an identity…
“But then they fell apart in the second half against the Seagulls.
“I don’t think Spurs’ defeat was down to his style of football, though. It was because of shocking defending, and the way they lost duels all over the pitch.
“I am expecting them to bounce back here, helped by the fact that Son Heung-min is in contention after a few weeks out.
“I’ve been saying it for a while now, but Tottenham are going to give someone an absolute hiding sooner or later.
“I don’t think it will happen against the Hammers, but I do think they will win this one easily enough.”
Paul Merson: Tottenham 2-1 West Ham
Paul Merson, like Shearer, believes Tottenham will have just enough to secure a narrow win over West Ham.
“This is a massive football match due to the intense rivalry between the two sides,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda.
“Tottenham looked great for 45 minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break, but they eventually ended up doing what they’re know for during that 3-2 loss.
“The ‘Spursy’ tag seems to never leave them! We saw the same thing happening during the game against Leicester City, now it’s happened again.
“When they’re 2-0 up and cruising, everything seems great. But as soon as they concede, no one wants to stand up for each other.
“That’s a worrying trend and a huge problem for Ange Postecoglou. Spurs crumble too quickly under pressure. We’re only in October and we’ve seen it happen twice now.
“They were probably playing their best team against Brighton, I really don’t think there’s a lot wrong with that line up either.
“When things are going well, all their players want to get on the ball and do things. But when it’s not, no one seems to want the ball! This is the problem.
“West Ham have not lived up to expectations. When Julen Lopetegui finds his best XI, they will start firing. But I still doubt if he knows that.
“They got a big win over Ipswich Town last time out and the international break probably came at the wrong time for them.
“West Ham could be back to where they started now, and with the break giving time for things to settle down at Tottenham, I’m backing Spurs to win.
READ MORE: How Tottenham could lineup against West Ham amid Heung-min Son injury concern
Ray Parlour: Tottenham 2-1 West Ham
Parlour is the second pundit to predict a 2-1 win for Spurs against the Hammers, and the fourth tipping the Lilywhites to win.
“This is a really tough one to call,” Parlour said on talkSPORT (18/10/2024, 7:44am).
“A lot of people would go for a draw, but I just think that Tottenham being at home, it’s a big game for Tottenham.
“I am going to go slightly towards Tottenham. I am going to go 2-1 Tottenham. And I am hoping that West Ham can get a result.
“I will go Solanke (to score) and 2-1 Tottenham.”
Stuart Pearce: Tottenham 2-2 West Ham
The Nottingham Forest legend, who also played for West Ham, is the only pundit on this list not to back Tottenham for a win.
He simply said on talkSPORT (15/10/2024, 6:12 pm): “I am going to go 2-2.”
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