da dobrowin： London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United go toe-to-toe at White Hart Lane this weekend after the international break, with both sides having lofty ambitions for this season.
da mrbet： The hosts are starting to look like a side capable of a top-four finish under Mauricio Pochettino, while the visitors want to have a successful campaign before moving into the Olympic Stadium next term.
West Ham have shown their calibre on the road this season with wins over Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, but will be without injured key playmaker Dimitri Payet.
Spurs meanwhile have not lost since the opening day of the campaign and have had the Hammers as a bogey team over recent years.
Here are three things Tottenham must do to add three points to their tally against Slaven Bilic’s men…
Get Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min on the ball
Tottenham have a number of sublimely gifted attacking midfielders with the ability to decide the game in their side’s favour, with none more able than Christian Eriksen.
The Denmark international has been a revelation since moving to White Hart Lane, coming up with important goals for the North London club but more importantly adding guile to the team.
Getting Eriksen on the ball against West Ham will be critical to Spurs’ chances, with the debate over whether the former Ajax man should be used on the left of midfield or centrally still wagering on.
Meanwhile, the addition of Son Heung-min has added another creative and direct attacking midfielder to Pochettino’s options.
With the South Korea international now fit again after injury, getting the most from their impressive new signing will be key to the White Hart Lane club’s top-four hopes.
Close Manuel Lanzini down
Although Payet’s absence nullifies a significant proportion of West Ham’s attacking menace, another Hammers summer signing has made quite the impression this term.
Manuel Lanzini’s name was lost somewhat in the extensive recruitment campaign by Bilic’s men over the off-season, but the Argentine has been one of the club’s best players this season so far.
The former River Plate youth graduate has fitted into English football with no problems, looking like both a creator and a goal threat for West Ham.
In Payet’s absence the level of responsibility to provide a spark will be on Lanzini’s shoulders, while Spurs must limit the Argentine’s space.
Win the aerial battles
Although West Ham have become more of a footballing side since Bilic’s arrival, the London outfit also have a direct presence and an aerial threat.
This is typified by a number of dominant characters in midfield but mostly through the presence of Andy Carroll.
Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have been an impressive new centre-half partnership for Spurs this season but for their side to win this game they will need to control the former Newcastle and Liverpool centre forward.
The Hammers will be sure to look to supply crosses to Carroll and if the England international is given space in the opposition penalty box he could well prove the match-winner.