Richarlison decision made as £165k/week player drops out of squad: Tottenham predicted XI v West Ham
Tottenham Hotspur are eager to get back to winning form in the Premier League as they prepare to face London rivals West Ham United this Saturday. Ange Postecoglou’s side will host the Hammers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 12:30pm kickoff, aiming to put their recent inconsistencies behind them.
Tottenham have demonstrated their potential in many games this season, often dominating possession and showing signs of being a team that could trouble their opponents.
However, defensive lapses and inconsistent finishing have frequently cost them points, leaving Spurs sitting in ninth place in the league standings. Despite their strong performances in parts, they have struggled to convert their dominance into results, a recurring issue that has seen them lose crucial matches.
Meanwhile, West Ham enter this match in 12th place, buoyed by a confident 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town in their last fixture. The Hammers will be looking to build on that performance as they take on Spurs, knowing that they could leapfrog their London rivals with a win.
As for team selection, Postecoglou received positive news ahead of the match, with key forwards Son Heung-min and Richarlison available for selection after recovering from injuries.
Son’s return, in particular, is a significant boost, as the captain’s leadership and attacking prowess have been sorely missed. Richarlison, too, will offer a valuable option either from the start or off the bench, giving Postecoglou more flexibility in attack.
Midfielder Lucas Bergvall also appears to have shaken off a knock picked up during the international break and has trained ahead of the game.
However, it remains unclear whether he will start or come off the bench, depending on his fitness levels. Wilson Odobert, another recent signing for Tottenham, is nearing full fitness but remains unavailable for this weekend’s game as he continues his recovery.
Looking ahead to the match, Postecoglou is expected to make just one key change to his lineup, with Son Heung-min likely to return to the left wing in place of Timo Werner.
Werner struggled in Tottenham’s recent defeat to Brighton, and with Son fully fit and ready, it seems an easy decision for the manager to reinstate his captain in the starting XI.
In terms of the rest of the squad, Guglielmo Vicario is expected to retain his spot between the posts, with the defensive line consisting of Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro. This backline has shown glimpses of solidity but will need to step up to avoid the defensive errors that have plagued the team this season.
The midfield is likely to feature a combination of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Dejan Kulusevski, providing both creativity and control in the center of the park.
Maddison has been one of Tottenham’s standout performers this season, with his ability to unlock defenses and create goal-scoring opportunities, while Bentancur adds a solid defensive presence and Kulusevski brings versatility to the lineup.
In attack, Brennan Johnson has been in fine form, scoring seven goals in his last seven consecutive games. He will likely start on the right wing, with Dominic Solanke leading the line as the central striker. Solanke has been a consistent presence in Tottenham’s attack, and with Richarlison available as a potential substitute, Spurs have a variety of attacking options to call upon during the match.
Postecoglou will hope that his team’s attacking talent can finally translate their chances into goals while addressing the defensive issues that have cost them dearly in recent matches.
The manager has plenty of experience and tactical knowledge, and he will be eager to correct the mistakes that led to Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton last time out.
With the return of Son and Richarlison, Tottenham will have a more complete squad, giving them a strong chance of securing three points. However, they will need to remain focused and avoid the kind of defensive lapses that have seen them drop points from winning positions.
Spurs will enter the match knowing that a win could propel them back into contention for the top spots in the league.
Predicted Tottenham XI v West Ham (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
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