Premier League Matchweek 15 - Tottenham vs West Ham: Can Spurs keep up with the title race? December 7, 2023 by Marc Jerbs

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United will face each other in a London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, December 8, 2023, in what could be a thrilling and high-scoring game. Both teams have had good starts to the season, with Tottenham challenging for the top spot and West Ham aiming for a European place.

Tottenham are currently fifth in the table after winning 9, drawing three and losing three of their 15 games so far. The Spurs have scored 28 goals and conceded 20, with Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski leading the scoring charts with nine and four, respectively.

Ange Postecoglou's side have shown great form and confidence, beating the likes of Man Chester United, Bournemouth and Burnely, and drawing with Arsenal. The former Postecoglou has reinvigorated his team, and has got the best out of his players, especially the new signings. Emerson Royal and Ben Davies have been impressive, and have added depth and quality to the squad.

West Ham, on the other hand, are ninth in the table, with 21 points from their first 14 games. The Hammers have scored 24 goals and conceded 14, with Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek scoring eight and four goals, respectively. David Moyes' side have struggled to find their best form, losing to Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, and drawing with Bournemouth and Newcastle.

The former Everton boss has tried to maintain his team's momentum from last season, but has faced difficulties in coping with the increased expectations and the busy schedule. Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Aaron Cresswell have all shown flashes of quality, but have also been inconsistent and ineffective at times. Moyes will be hoping that his key players can step up and deliver, and that his team can improve their defensive solidity and offensive creativity.

The last time these two teams met was in Club Friendly match last July 17, where West Ham won, 3-2, at Optus Stadium, thanks to goals from Danny Ings, Divin Mubama and Gianluca Scamacca. The Spurs have an edge over the Hammers in their recent head-to-head record, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their last five meetings in all competitions. However, the Hammers have been a tough opponent for the Spurs in the past, and have managed to score in four of these five matchups.

Sports Bet Odds

The Tottenham are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• Tottenham are favored by -1 point, with a Full Time Result of 1.72.
• West Ham are the underdogs by +1 point, with a Full Time Result of 4.33.
• Tie has a Full Time Result of 4.2.
• Total Goals is set at 2.5 points, with the Under at 2.6 and the Over at 1.47.

Both teams will be eager to get a win on Thursday, as they aim to maintain or improve their positions in the table. Tottenham will be confident of extending their recent successes against West Ham. Meanwhile, West Ham will be desperate to bounce back from their poor start, and will look to use their individual quality and experience to unsettle Tottenham's rhythm and balance.

The game is likely to be an open and exciting one, with plenty of goals and chances for both sides. The fans can expect a thrilling and entertaining spectacle, as two ambitious and attacking teams go head-to-head in a crucial encounter.