We return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon with a short trip east to take on West Ham United (2pm kick-off).
Here in the Notebook, take a look at the key points of note ahead of the game…
1 - London Stadium run
Having failed to win at the London Stadium last season for just the second time since West Ham began their tenancy at the former Olympic Stadium in the summer of 2016, we’ll be looking to rekindle our fortunes in Stratford this Sunday. Having made the journey to the Hammers’ E20 home six times in the last five years, we have come out on top four times and have scored in each of our last five trips.
2 - Hammers’ home hurdles
The London Stadium has been something of a haunt for West Ham in recent weeks. In each of their last two Premier League games in E20, the Hammers have succumbed to late, late defeats with both Manchester United and Brentford scoring winners in the final minutes of their games against the Irons to claim all three points with 2-1 wins – both of those defeats came off the back of two European outings for the Hammers. Although, they haven’t lost three consecutive home games in the league since December, 2019.
3 - A dead heat
Our run of Premier League games without a draw was further extended with our 3-2 victory over Newcastle United last time out. It has now been 14 games since we last were involved in a stalemate, winning nine and losing five. Our longest such run in the league’s history was 32 games without a draw between April, 2018, and February, 2019. And not since November, 2007, have we drawn away to West Ham – a run of 12 games (seven wins, five defeats).
4 - Consistency on the field
There has been little change for West Ham on the pitch this season. So far this campaign, the Hammers have used 18 players in the Premier League – no side has used less in the competition – while David Moyes has made just four changes to his starting line-ups this term – a league low.
5 - Hitting the target
Harry Kane certainly seems to enjoy a goal against West Ham and, having broken his Premier League duck for the season against Newcastle last time out, he’ll be looking to get himself on a scoring run, continuing against the Hammers on Sunday. In the league, Harry has scored 11 goals against the Irons – only against Leicester City (15) has he scored more – although, it must be noted that only three of them have come away from home.
6 - Worth his weight in gold
Heung-Min Son’s goal contributions to the team this season have been vital. So far this term, our number seven has been involved in five goals (four scored, one assist) and those involvements have picked us up eight points in the league. No player’s individual contributions have accumulated more points in the competition than Sonny. Against West Ham in the Premier League, he has been involved in seven goals (three scored, four assists) – only against Southampton has he been involved in more in the division (12).
7 - Going in the book
In a London derby, the stakes are always raised. There is increased intensity and aggression from both sides and that, usually, brings about yellow and red cards. This particular fixture is no different as in the last four meetings between the two sides, there’s been 21 yellow cards shown (Spurs 7, West Ham 14). However, not since September, 2017, has there been a red card shown in this fixture – Serge Aurier was dismissed for two bookable offences as we took all three points with a 3-2 win at the London Stadium.
This season, Oliver Skipp and West Ham’s Declan Rice sit within the Premier League’s top six for yellow cards accumulated, with the pair having been cautioned seven times between them.
8 - Davies keen for us to set the pace
Having been with us for seven years now, Ben Davies is well aware of the importance of this fixture – and he also feels picking up a positive result against an impressive Hammers side at this stage of the season will be significant for us come May.
“It is a huge game for us,” Ben said as he previewed the clash. “They did well last year, and they are going to be up and around it again. So, it’s going to be important that we pick up points where we can.”
9 - Team news – fresh legs
Following Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to leave all of the outfield players who started in last Sunday’s win over Newcastle at home for Thursday’s Europa Conference League fixture against Vitesse, our trip to West Ham will likely see many of those players come back into the side, refreshed after a week of focussed training at Hotspur Way. Nuno confirmed that, in terms of the aforementioned group who remained in London, ‘everybody is okay’, however Matt Doherty and Ryan Sessegnon remain unavailable through injury.
10 - London’s calling
On Sunday, both teams will head into a London derby – a fixture that neither outfit has recently enjoyed participating in. Starting with our hosts, this will be the sixth consecutive capital clash that West Ham have played at the London Stadium and they have failed to win any of the last four. Meanwhile, we have won just one of our last nine London derbies on the road and have been defeated in each of the last three – we haven’t lost four such games on the bounce since April, 2005.