Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Jan 17 – Will Tottenham stop the rot in this must-win encounter?

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sets a tense stage for a London derby where survival and pride collide. Following a dismal run of results, the hosts struggle in fourteenth while the visitors sit eighteenth. Frank’s pragmatic, direct system faces Nuno’s transition-based setup in a clash defined by tactical rigidity and a desperate need for creative inspiration.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United Match Details at a Glance

Injury News and Suspensions

Tottenham Hotspur

The home side faces a massive creative void. James Maddison is out until May, while Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke are sidelined until late January. Mohammed Kudus also remains out with a muscle injury. These absences leave Thomas Frank with few options to solve his team’s widely publicized attacking problems.

West Ham United

Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad is relatively healthy compared to their rivals. Only Lukasz Fabianski is confirmed as an absentee with a back injury, expected back by mid-January. This near-full-strength squad provides the visitors a rare chance to capitalize on the hosts’ injury crisis and finally break their winless run.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United Head-to-Head Records

Form Guide

Tottenham Hotspur

Currently fourteenth, the Lilywhites are enduring a miserable stretch with just two wins in eleven matches. Thomas Frank’s pragmatic 4-3-3 relies on direct play and defensive organization, yet a crippling lack of creativity has stalled their progress. Without Maddison or Solanke, the burden falls on Tel and Simons to convert possession into goals. Maintaining a high work rate is essential to avoid slipping further down the table.

West Ham United

Trapped in eighteenth place, the Irons are suffering through an eight-game winless streak across all competitions. Their 4-2-3-1 system prioritizes defensive structure and set-piece strength, yet they currently hold the league’s worst defensive record. Individual errors from Todibo and others have been costly. Nuno’s men desperately need Paquetá’s vision and Bowen’s clinical finishing to ignite a resurgence and escape the looming threat of the relegation zone.

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Key Battles

Pedro Porro vs Crysencio Summerville

Pedro Porro remains a vital outlet for the hosts, offering defensive tenacity paired with dangerous crossing ability from the right flank. In a side struggling for goals, his set-piece delivery and overlapping runs are crucial. He must balance his attacking instincts to ensure he isn’t caught out during quick transitions today.

Summerville provides the pace and trickery necessary to exploit a high line. As a key transitional threat for the visitors, his role involves cutting inside to create numerical advantages. If he can isolate the Spaniard in one-on-one situations, he might just provide the clinical cross to unlock the game.

Micky van de Ven vs Jarrod Bowen

Based on the players available, a likely key duel is Van de Ven utilizing his recovery speed to neutralize counter-attacks. His role is to anchor a backline prone to individual errors. If the Dutchman remains disciplined, he can shut down the visitors’ direct vertical passes and maintain structural integrity.

Jarrod Bowen is the primary attacking threat for the away side, relying on his movement and finishing to punish defensive lapses. In a low-confidence squad, his leadership and work rate are infectious. His ability to find space behind the defense will be the deciding factor in breaking their winless run.

Tactical Outlook

Frank will likely deploy a pragmatic 4-3-3, emphasizing a solid defensive block and direct attacking play. With creativity at a premium, the hosts will rely on Simons and Bentancur to control the midfield and feed Kolo Muani. High work rates and organized pressing are required to mask the absence of their key playmakers and minimize the risk of defensive errors.

Nuno’s side will adopt a structured 4-2-3-1, focusing on aerial dominance and rapid vertical transitions. By keeping a compact shape, they aim to frustrate the struggling hosts and strike through Bowen and Paquetá. However, they must eliminate the individual errors that have plagued the league’s poorest defense if they hope to secure a vital result in this derby.

Possible Playing Squad

Tottenham Hotspur XI:

Vicario (GK), Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Bentancur, Simons, Bergvall, Tel, Kolo Muani

West Ham United XI:

Areola (GK), Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Todibo, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Paquetá, Summerville, Castellanos

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United Match Prediction

The home advantage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium usually provides a lift, but the current creative crisis is impossible to ignore. Both London rivals are low on confidence and prone to mistakes. Expect a cagey, tactical affair where neither side manages to truly dominate, likely resulting in a tense stalemate.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United Score Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 West Ham United. Tel finds a rare opening for the hosts, but a Bowen set-piece ensures the visitors take a point, extending both sides’ frustrating runs.

Disclaimer: This Football prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.