Premier League preview Tottenham Hotspur at West Ham United

West Ham have a rather set XI

Spurs can expect David Moyes to line West Ham up in their 4-2-3-1 formation, with strength up the middle of the pitch for the Hammers. Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma are forming a solid partnership and neither played against Genk on Thursday.

Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson did play on Thursday, but Cresswell was subbed and Johnson is just 21 so playing again should not be a problem. That back four should be in front of Lukasz Fabianski in goal, providing a solid defence that is not easily cracked.

Part of what makes Hammer’s defence so good is the protection they enjoy from Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice. Soucek and Rice are not your classic holding midfielders who just sit in front of the backline, rather they are two box-to-box threats who are as likely to head the ball into the back of the net as out of danger.

Getting runners to stay with the pair as they come into the box will be critical, especially Soucek who is the more attacking of the two.

West Ham features a hard-working, quick shooting attack, led by Tottenham killer Antonio. With Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma, and Jarrod Bowen backing up Antonio, there is plenty of firepower and persistence for the team.

Tottenham will mirror West Ham’s set-up

Tottenham is likely to mirror the Hammer’s 4-2-3-1 with Harry Kane leading the line, backed up by Heung-Min Son,  Tanguy Ndombele, and Lucas Moura.  Spurs attacking line is older and not as high intensity as that of West Ham but on their day, they are as good an attacking quartet as any in the league.

The midfield is held together by Oliver Skipp and Pierre Hojbjerg. Hojbjerg is about at the same level as Rice and Soucek, although Soucek is the most polished in the attack of the group. Oliver Skipp is just a level under those three but is still growing and likely will be the youngest player on the pitch.

Spurs defense seems to be coming together, although they are going to have their hands full. Souchek likes to overlap on their attacking right with Bowen, meaning Sergio Reguilon is going to be very busy. Likewise, we know Antonio is a handful, but Eric Dier will have more help with Cristian Romero next to him.

Fornals’ battle with Emerson Royal should be a good one and hopefully, Lucas can keep Cresswell less involved. Regardless we can expect Hugo Lloris to have a lot of action in and around the goal.

West Ham Line-up:

Fabianski – Cresswell – Obgonna – Zouma – Johnson – Soucek – Rice – Fornals – Benrahma – Bowen – Antonio

Tottenham Line-up:

Lloris – Reguilon – Dier – Romero – Royal – Skipp – Hojbjerg – Son – Ndombele – Moura – Kane

Continued…