Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United: Can Spurs outclass West Ham in the top 4 battle?

The race for the top four in the Premier League (PL) is heating up as Antonio Conte's Tottenham Hotspur host David Moyes' West Ham United in a tense battle on Sunday (March 20th 2022). 

The two teams are only separated by goal difference in the PL table, while Arsenal are in the pole position with games in hand to secure a place in next season's Champions League (CL). 

While Spurs bounced back from their defeat against Manchester United with a convincing 3-0 midweek win against Brighton;  West Ham will also have fond memories of the midweek as they booked their place in the quarter-final of the UEFA Europa League (EL).

Harry Kane in red hot form

While Spurs are having an inconsistent season, Harry Kane has been racking up some serious numbers for club and country in the campaign. 

Although he missed a golden chance in the early parts of the Brighton game, he made sure to pock home in the second half to become the PL's greatest ever away goal scorer with 95 goals to his name. 

He surpassed Wayne Rooney’s tally of 94 away goals. He didn't stop there as that goal also meant that, he is now the fifth highest goal scorer in Premier League history with 178 goals to his name. 

With 39 goals in London derbies, Kane is only second to Thierry Henry for most goals scored in the capital affairs.

Shades of last season

Although Spurs have lost only two home PL games against West Ham in their last 19 matches, their last meeting in Tottenham Hotspur stadium was nothing short of a defeat. 

Leading 3-0 at the 83rd-minute mark, the Hammers produced an extraordinary comeback to snatch a point thanks to a late collapse in defense and a stoppage-time equaliser from Manuel Lanzini. 

Indeed we have to go way back to August 1999, when the Hammers last time won three in a row against their North London rivals in the PL.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United: H2H Record

The teams have met on 51 occasions in the Premier League, with Spurts leading with 24 wins, seven more than West Ham's tally of 17 wins. 

Moyes' side has won on five occasions on Spurs soil in the PL era and were the first team to heat Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April 2019. 

2014 remains the last time when West Ham did a season double over Spurs, they won 3-0 at White Hart Lane that season.

Top 4 race heats up

The race for the top four will go down the wire as Arsenal, Manchester remain to be part of the debate. The latest loss for Arsenal against Liverpool represents a significant blow as head-to-head clashes will decide the fate. 

Unlike Spurs, Arsenal still have big guns like Chelsea, Manchester United to face. While the likes of Manchester United will have Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to face in the big boys battle in the race for the top four. 

West Ham also have big boys to face in the coming weeks as they wait for Arsenal, however, they will have a second road to get into the Champions League as they still are in the EL with a potential semi-final against Barcelona.

Despite midweek fatigue, West Ham will have spring in their steps while Spurs will also try to cement their place in the top four.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United