Tottenham Hotspur sit ninth in the Premier League after seven matches, having struggled with consistency in the early stages of the 2024-25 season. Ange Postecoglou’s men are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, where they squandered a two goal lead at halftime.

Despite their difficulties, it’s still early in the campaign, and a London derby against a misfiring West Ham United provides an ideal opportunity for Spurs to get back on track. West Ham, under new manager Julen Lopetegui, have been far from their best, managing just two wins so far this season and sitting 12th in the league.

Paul Merson believes Tottenham will edge the contest and expects a 2-1 victory for the home side, with Lopetegui yet to settle on his strongest starting line-up for the Hammers. Writing in his Sportskeeda column, Merson explained, “West Ham have not lived up to the expectations. When Julen Lopetegui finds his best XI, they will start firing.”

“But I still doubt if he knows that. They got a big win over Ipswich last time out and the international break probably came at the wrong time for them.”

“West Ham could be back to where they started now, and with the break giving time for things to settle down at Tottenham, I’m backing Spurs to win.”

Tottenham’s three defeats this season have come against Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Brighton. In each of those matches, they were competitive and arguably could have earned at least a draw if they had maintained their composure. The loss to Brighton before the international break was particularly frustrating, as Spurs allowed a comfortable lead to slip away.

Postecoglou’s squad is relatively young, and while the team’s inexperience has shown at times, there is enough talent within the ranks to start delivering more consistent results. The game against West Ham presents a perfect chance for Spurs to demonstrate that they can close out matches and secure the points needed to climb the table.

With the international break now behind them, Tottenham will be eager to show they can return to form, and the visit of a struggling West Ham side could be just the opportunity they need.