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West Ham United play, Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Upton Park on Monday.
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola was starting to come under pressure at Upton Park in his first managerial job. However, a spirited 0-0 draw against Liverpool on Monday night at Anfield, which was on the back of a 1-0 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light has turned things around for West Ham, who had not won in their previous seven Premier League games. West Ham, are just three points above Tottenham and with things so tight in the Premiership this season, will hope to collect all three points against their London rivals.
Spurs lost at White Hart Lane last week to Everton, which was the first loss at home under Harry Redknapp, having won all their other matches on their own patch since the former Portsmouth boss took over from Juande Ramos. However, despite having a good run of form before the defeat to the Toffees, Spurs are just out of the relegation spots on goal difference in 16th place in the Premier League. However, Tottenham did make it through to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup on Wednesday, when they beat Championship side Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent bagged one apiece to send the North London club through, with Redknapp hoping for more of the same to fire Spurs up the table.
Zola is unable to call on Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Jonathan Spector (Thigh), Daniel Gabbidon (groin) and striker Dean Ashton (os Trigonum syndrome) for the visit of Tottenham. With Craig Bellamy, Carlton Cole David Di Michele and Diego Tristan all fighting to play upfront in a Hammers attack that has been misfiring recently.
Tottenham will be without Alan Hutton (metatarsal), Luka Modric (thigh) and summer signing Giovanni Dos Santos (ankle) for the trip across London to Upton park. Redknapp is likely to field his strongest side against the Hammers as the Spurs boss is only too aware of the tightness of the situation at the bottom of the table and the importance of staying in the Premier League to Tottenham.
“It's very hard to get out, you need a good run. We've had a good run, we've taken nearly two points a game,” Redknapp said earlier this week.
“Long term the most important thing for this club is the Premier League. That's the most important thing by far.”
West Ham United: (from) Green, Neill, Ilunga, Lopez, Parker, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Noble, Mullins, Collins, Faubert, Behrami, Stokes, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Bowyer, Collison, Di Michele, Sears, Stech, Hines, Jeffery
Tottenham Hotspur: (from) Gomes, King, Woodgate, Corluka, Bale, Jenas, Bentley, Zokora, Lennon, Huddlestone, Bent, Pavlyuchenko, Cesar, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto,
Gunter, Campbell, Stalteri, Ghaly, Taarabt, Rocha, Boateng, O’Hara, Gilberto, Alnwick
Tottenham Hotspur play, David Moyes’ Everton in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Spurs are enjoying a new lease of life under new boss Harry Redknapp, with the North London club winning four, drawing once and losing just once in six Premiership matches since the former Portsmouth manager has been in charge at White Hart Lane. Tottenham won 1-0 against Blackburn Rovers last weekend and have won every home game since Redknapp took over. However, despite this good run of form Spurs are still just outside the relegation zone in 16th place in the Premier League and need to collect all three points against Everton to start climbing the table.
While Spurs have been formidable at home recently, Moyes’ Toffees side have been better away this season than they have been at Goodison Park. Everton have won four times on their travels this season, but won just once at Goodison, which will be a concern for the Merseyside club. Everton go into this game with Spurs on the back of a 1-0 loss to Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium last Monday and are 7th in the Premiership.
Redknapp was dealt a blow this week when Scottish International Alan Hutton was ruled out for five months with a metatarsal fracture. Spurs will also be without Giovanni Dos Santos (ankle) and Luka Modric (thigh), but could have Jermaine Jenas available for the visit of Everton if the England International shakes off an ankle injury in time.
The Toffees have a host of players unavailable for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Lars Jacobsen (shoulder), Nuno Valente (knee), James Vaughan (knee), Louis Saha (hamstring), Tony Hibbert (thigh) and Victor Anichebe (hamstring) all out for the Merseyside club. Moyes could have Steven Pienaar available if the South African can shake off a knee injury in time for the clash with Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur: (from) Gomes, Corluka, Bale, King, Woodgate, Gunter, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Bentley, Lennon, O’Hara, Huddlestone, Zokora, Bent, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Gilberto, Stalteri, Ghaly, Taarabt, Dawson, Cesar, Rocha, Boateng
Everton: (from) Howard, Yobo, Lescott, Jagielka, Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar, Osman, Yakubu, Baines, Fellaini, van der Meyde, Nash, Castillo, Neville, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Ruddy, Gosling, Kissock, Baxter, Irving, Agard
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