Fresh from their six-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur return to North London to take on capital foes West Ham United in the Premier League on Thursday night.
The Hammers also enter this contest after picking up a point in a score draw with Crystal Palace on home soil last Saturday.
Match preview
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Many questioned whether an injury-ravaged Tottenham would have the credentials to compete away against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City last Sunday, but Ange Postecoglou's side admirably held their own and salvaged a point at the death in an entertaining 3-3 draw.
Son Heung-min bizarrely scored at both ends in the opening eight minutes before Phil Foden put Man City in front, but Spurs fought back and equalised on the 65-minute mark courtesy of a sweet strike from Giovani Lo Celso – his second goal in as many matches.
Jack Grealish appeared to have won it for the Citizens with a strike nine minutes from time, but Dejan Kulusevski had the last laugh as he rose above Nathan Ake at the back post to head home a 90th-minute equaliser, before Spurs benefitted from Simon Hooper's controversial decision to blow his whistle for a foul on Erling Haaland when Grealish burst through on goal in stoppage time, sparking a furious reaction from the home side.
Postecoglou praised Tottenham's "conviction" in the second half to grind out a positive result and avoid a fourth successive loss, and while they remain fifth in the Premier League table, they are only two points behind Aston Villa in fourth, although six points separate them from North London rivals Arsenal are the top.
Tottenham, who have lost their last two home games against Chelsea and Aston Villa, are now gearing up for successive matches in North London versus West Ham and sixth-placed Newcastle United in the space of three days, and they will fancy their chances of ending their winless streak against the former on Thursday as they have won four of their last five home meetings with the Hammers in all competitions, including each of their last three by an aggregate score of 7-2.
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West Ham's four-game winning run across all competitions has come to an end after they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Mohammed Kudus scored his fifth Hammers goal to open the scoring on the 13-minute mark, but Odsonne Edouard rescued a point for the Eagles with a 53rd-minute equaliser after capitalising on a defensive error from Konstantinos Mavropanos.
David Moyes rued the "terrible" mistake by Mavropanos and was disappointed that his West Ham side were unable to build on their early opener, but they are still sitting in a respectable ninth place in the table, only three points behind the top seven and six adrift of Thursday's opponents Tottenham.
West Ham will reminisce about their 1-0 victory at Spurs in April 2019, with Michail Antonio's goal condemning the Lilywhites to their first-ever home defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Staduim. However, the Hammers have since failed to win each of their last four visits, including three defeats.
Moyes's men have also had little success in recent London derbies as they have lost nine of their last 10 such matches in the Premier League, including a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in February – the only exception during this run was a slender 1-0 win over Fulham in April.
Team News
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Tottenham's packed treatment room includes Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle), James Maddison (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Pape Matar Sarr (muscle), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Ashley Phillips (ankle) and Alfie Whiteman (ankle), while Eric Dier is doubtful after missing the draw with Man City due to a muscle problem sustained in training.
However, Spurs will have Cristian Romero available for selection after serving a three-match suspension, and the centre-back is expected to slot straight back into the heart of the defence at the expense of Emerson Royal.
Postecoglou is unlikely to make too many other changes, if any, to his first XI, but he does has Richarlison back at his disposal after the Brazilian came off the bench against Man City just 24 days after undergoing groin surgery. Nevertheless, Son, Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Bryan Gil are set to retain their places in attack.
As for West Ham, Michail Antonio remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a knee injury, while it remains to be seen if defender Kurt Zouma will feature after having over £100,000 of valuables stolen during a robbery at his family home last weekend, forcing him to miss the draw with Crystal Palace.
The Hammers were boosted by the return of star forward Jarrod Bowen against the Eagles and the Englishman - who has scored in all six top-flight away appearances this term - is expected to lead the line in Antonio's absence, with Kudus, Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta the most likely trio to provide support in the final third.
Zouma's potential absence could see former Arsenal man Mavropanos keep his place at centre-back alongside Nayef Aguerd, while Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse should continue in the engine room.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Lo Celso; Johnson, Kulusevski, Gil; Son
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Soucek, Paqueta; Bowen
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United
Considering that each of the last five games involving Tottenham have seen at least three goals scored and that West Ham have found the net in 10 of their last 11 meetings with Spurs, goals are to be expected on Thursday night.
Tottenham proved against Man City that they can battle with the best despite their lengthy injury list, and while West Ham should not be taken lightly by any means, the hosts should do enough to outscore their opponents en route to claiming their first three points since October 27.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
