PL: Hammers target Spurs scalp

West Ham vs. Tottenham
Venue: London Stadium
Kick off: 12:30pm

The sixth weekend of Premier League action gets underway with a London derby at lunchtime as West Ham United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the London Stadium.
Last season’s edition of the fixture all but ended Tottenham’s hopes of winning the Premier League title, and the North Londoners will be after revenge against their struggling hosts this weekend.
The pressure on the shoulders of West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has eased with a couple of improved results recently, but the spotlight is still on the Croatian.
Reports claimed that he had just one match to save his job following three consecutive defeats to open up the new Premier League season, but West Ham now head into today’s tie having lost just one of their last five outings across all competitions.
A 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town earlier this month handed the Hammers their first points of the season, and they added one more to their tally during a dour goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
The Hammers’ improved form has coincided with the return of Andy Carroll and subsequent switch to a 3-4-3 formation which has also seen Bilic change his style of play – his side have averaged more than twice as many crosses during the last two league games as they did during their opening three.
An aerial bombardment may be coming the way of Spurs, then, as West Ham go in search of back-to-back league wins at the London Stadium for only the second time. Across all competitions this term Bilic’s side have won both outings in front of their own fans, scoring five goals without reply in the process.
Bilic has won all three of his home managerial meetings with Mauricio Pochettino by a single goal to nil, including two with West Ham and one while in charge of Besiktas in the 2014-15 Europa League group stage.
On the other hand, Tottenham away games may be silently relished by Pochettino and his players at the moment, with talk of the Wembley curse subsiding during the buildup to a match on the road.
More dropped points at their temporary home during a 0-0 draw with Swansea City last weekend leaves them now five points adrift of the leading Manchester clubs, and that is a gap they cannot allow to grow much bigger.
Away trips to West Ham have not provided much more joy in recent seasons, though, and even at this early stage of the campaign defeat in East London could have a significant impact on their title hopes – as it has in both of the past two seasons.
Tottenham’s away form has been good of late, though. Pochettino’s side have won both of their league outings on the road so far this season without conceding a goal – including an impressive 3-0 win over Everton in their most recent away game.
Another victory on Saturday would see them equal their club record of five consecutive Premier League away wins, while also lifting them into third place for a few hours at least.
Spurs are also unbeaten in their last nine league outings in September – a record no doubt helped by Harry Kane’s penchant for following up a barren August with a fruitful spell in front of goal.

West Ham possible XI: Hart, Fonte, Reid, Ogbonna, Zabaleta, Kouyate, Noble, Cresswell, Antonio, Carroll, Hernandez.
Tottenham possible XI: Lloris, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier, Dembele, Dier, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.