The latest London derby between Tottenham and West Ham looks set to be defined by future desires and current injuries. Although the stats currently favour Spurs, it seems as though the action off the pitch might influence the game when the game kicks off on November 19.
Indeed, heading into the match, the two teams look set to be on a transfer collision course for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge. With the striker failing to find his mark with the Reds this season, a January transfer could be on the horizon, but where will he go? According to an article by Bleacher Report, Tottenham is eager to sign the goal-getter after failing to secure a deal at the start of the season.
Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly had his eye on Sturridge for some time, and the man himself has said he is willing to move to London if he gets the chance. With 57 goals in 102 games for Liverpool, Sturridge would certainly boost a Tottenham front line that’s only managed 15 goals this season (the lowest strike rate in the top five).
However, if the bookies have it right, Sturridge will be West Ham bound in January. Ladbrokes is currently offering 7/2 on a move to the Hammers, which may mean we see the striker in claret and blue this season. Of course, the odds are merely speculative at this point, but the current situation does seem to suggest that Tottenham and West Ham are vying for Sturridge, and that could create an interesting dynamic on Saturday.
Although Sturridge will be watching his Liverpool teammates take on Southampton, there’s a chance he’ll have one eye on Tottenham vs. West Ham. In fact, both managers probably know that their performances in the lead-up to Christmas could very well play a part in Sturridge’s decision-making process. With this in mind, neither side will want to give an inch when they clash at White Hart Lane.
Of course, transfer speculation can only have so much effect on a game, and the real issue for both clubs this time around appears to be injuries. With West Ham currently languishing in 17th place after 11 games, manager Slaven Bilic certainly won’t be happy that he could be without nine players on Saturday.
Jamie Collins, Winston Reid, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are just four of the players doubtful through injury. To make matters worse, Mark Noble won’t be eligible because of a ban, which means West Ham could be lacking in all areas of the park when they travel across London to Tottenham.
That fact will come as a blow to Hammers fans as they have yet to see their side gain any real momentum this season. Three wins from 11, and just six-goal strikes of a side that could easily slip into a regulation dogfight in the post-Christmas run.
However, if there was ever a glimmer of hope, then it’s the news that Pochettino has his own injury crisis to worry about. With Christian Eriksen injuring his foot for Denmark, Tottenham may now be without seven key players. Indeed, with Mousa Dembele and Vincent Janssen also suffering knocks while away on international duty, the Spurs side that’s currently gone unbeaten in 11 could look decidedly shaky on Saturday.
Spurs’ injury worries don’t seem to have affected the odds, however. Scanning through the Premier League betting options at Sun Bets this week shows Tottenham as heavy favourites for the game. 8/15 is the current price on a home win, while a draw and away win are 16/5 and 5/1 respectively.
Given the current state of both team’s seasons, the form does suggest that a Tottenham win is on the cards. However, with transfer issues and injuries shifting the goalposts, this one might not be as cut-and-dry as the bookmakers believe. In fact, with the added pressure of it being a London derby, we could see West Ham’s finest raise their games and eke out a result.
In reality, the result is most likely to be a draw, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any betting value in this match. Perhaps the most alluring bets are those involving a lack of goals. With a combined 21 goals between them so far this season (that’s nine less than Liverpool have scored on their own), this game probably won’t be a goal-fest.
7/10 on under 2.5 goals at Bet365 looks to be a good price, as does 19/20 on both teams not to score. However, if you’re looking for some real value, 0-0 or 1-1 are currently priced at 12/1 and 13/2 respectively at Stan James.
Although Tottenham remains the clear favourites for the game, there is a chance that external factors could play a part in the result. If West Ham can retrieve a point from White Hart Lane, then it’s likely to be because they ground out a goalless draw. Yes, there’s a chance both teams could surprise us and bang in goals for fun, but the chances are this one will be a goal or two either way.
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