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**Meta Title:** West Ham vs Tottenham: EPL Preview, Prediction & Tips (53 chars)

**Meta Description:** Premier League preview for West Ham vs Tottenham (May 4). Get predictions, betting tips, team news, form analysis, and expected lineups for this London derby. (158 chars)

# West Ham vs Tottenham: Premier League Match Preview, Predictions & Betting Tips (2025-05-04)

Get ready for a crucial Premier League London derby as West Ham United host Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on Sunday, May 4, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 UTC (2:00 PM BST). In an unexpected turn of events for both clubs this season, this Week 35 clash sees 17th-placed West Ham take on 16th-placed Tottenham. This EPL match preview provides in-depth analysis, score predictions, betting tips, and the latest team news for this vital football encounter.

## Match Prediction and Scoreline

**Predicted Score:** West Ham 1 – 1 Tottenham

**Betting Insights & Probabilities:**

*   **Winner Odds (Approx. via Betfair):** West Ham Evens (1/1), Draw 2/1, Tottenham 21/10
*   **Probability Breakdown (Estimated):** West Ham Win: ~40%, Draw: ~30%, Tottenham Win: ~30%
*   **Both Teams to Score (BTTS):** Yes. Neither side has kept a Premier League clean sheet since February (Article 3).
*   **Over/Under 2.5 Goals:** Under 2.5 Goals. Given both teams' poor league form and Spurs' likely rotation, a tight affair seems probable.

This match presents intriguing EPL betting tips. While West Ham are slight favourites at home against a potentially rotated Spurs side, the draw offers value at 2/1. Both teams' defensive frailties make BTTS a strong possibility, despite the low score prediction.

## Key Factors and Expected Outcome

Several key match factors will influence the expected EPL outcome of this London derby:

*   **Team Form:** Both sides are in dismal Premier League form. West Ham are winless in their last seven league matches (Articles 3, 6, 8, 10-13), while Tottenham have lost five of their last six PL games (Results Table).
*   **Tottenham's Europa League Focus:** Spurs secured a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday (Articles 2, 3, 4). With the crucial second leg in Norway just days away, manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed he will rotate heavily (Articles 6, 7, 9), potentially weakening their Premier League lineup significantly.
*   **Injuries:** Both squads are hit hard.
    *   **West Ham:** Crysencio Summerville is out for the season (Articles 3, 6, 8, 10-12), and Edson Alvarez is questionable (Articles 3, 6, 8). Michail Antonio is also listed as out (Article 3).
    *   **Tottenham:** Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin are out for the season (Articles 3, 4, 5, 7). Key players Heung-min Son and James Maddison are confirmed out for this match, with Maddison's knee injury a particular "concern" (Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9). Dominic Solanke is also a major doubt (Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9).
*   **Managerial Pressure & Morale:** West Ham manager Graham Potter is admittedly "feeling the pressure" from fans amid the poor run and issues with conceding late goals (Articles 10-13). Postecoglou is battling a "negative narrative" around Spurs in the league (Article 2), though the Europa League success provides a boost.
*   **Home Advantage:** West Ham have the London Stadium advantage, but their recent home form hasn't capitalised on it. Spurs' away form in the league has been poor.

**Expected Outcome:** Expect a cagey match between two sides low on confidence in the league. West Ham will view this as a prime opportunity given Spurs' likely rotation and injury woes. However, the Hammers' own form and fragility, particularly late in games, make a win far from certain. A hard-fought draw seems the most probable result.

## Recent Team Form and Key Players to Watch

### West Ham United - Recent Form (Last 5 PL)
*   Brighton 3 - **2 West Ham** (L)
*   **West Ham 1** - 1 Southampton (D)
*   Liverpool 2 - **1 West Ham** (L)
*   **West Ham 2** - 2 Bournemouth (D)
*   Wolves 1 - **0 West Ham** (L)
*(Overall PL Form: L D L D L - Winless in 7)*

### Tottenham Hotspur - Recent Form (Last 5 PL)
*   Liverpool 5 - **1 Tottenham** (L)
*   **Tottenham 1** - 2 Nottingham Forest (L)
*   Wolves 4 - **2 Tottenham** (L)
*   **Tottenham 3** - 1 Southampton (W)
*   Chelsea 1 - **0 Tottenham** (L)
*(Overall PL Form: L L L W L)*

### Injuries and Suspensions
*   **West Ham:**
    *   OUT: Crysencio Summerville (hamstring/thigh), Michail Antonio (?)
    *   DOUBTFUL: Edson Alvarez (lower back)
*   **Tottenham:**
    *   OUT: Lucas Bergvall (ankle - season), Radu Dragusin (ACL - season), Heung-min Son (foot/ankle), James Maddison (knee)
    *   DOUBTFUL: Dominic Solanke (thigh/quad)

### Key Players to Watch
*   **West Ham:**
    *   **Jarrod Bowen & Mohamed Kudus:** The primary attacking threats for the Hammers, likely to operate wide or support the central striker.
    *   **Niclas Fullkrug:** Could start after coming off the bench vs Brighton (Article 8). Offers a physical presence upfront.
    *   **Lucas Paqueta:** Key creative force in midfield for West Ham.
*   **Tottenham:**
    *   **Dejan Kulusevski:** With Maddison and Son out, his creativity will be vital if he starts.
    *   **Richarlison:** Likely to lead the line if Solanke is unfit (Article 6 Predicted XI). Needs to step up.
    *   **Pape Sarr / Yves Bissouma:** The expected midfield pairing (Article 7 Predicted XI) will face a tough battle against Paqueta and Soucek.
    *   **Rotated Defenders (e.g., Danso, Davies, Spence):** Will be under scrutiny against the West Ham attack.

## Tactical Preview

*   **Likely Formations:**
    *   **West Ham (Potter):** Predicted to use a 3-4-3 or similar setup (Article 8), potentially featuring Todibo, Mavropanos, and Kilman at the back, with wing-backs providing width.
    *   **Tottenham (Postecoglou):** Usually favour a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, but heavy rotation is expected. Article 7 predicts a 4-2-3-1 with many changes (Vicario; Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence; Sarr, Bissouma; Odobert, Kulusevski, Tel; Richarlison).
*   **Styles of Play:**
    *   West Ham may look to exploit Spurs' makeshift defence, possibly through Bowen and Kudus' pace and Fullkrug's presence if he starts. Potter will be desperate for defensive solidity after recent late collapses.
    *   Tottenham's usual high-intensity pressing game might be tempered by the personnel changes and the upcoming European tie. Expect a potentially less fluid Spurs performance than usual.
*   **Key Tactical Battles:**
    *   **West Ham Attack vs. Spurs' Rotated Defence:** Can Bowen, Kudus, and potentially Fullkrug/Ferguson find gaps in a likely unfamiliar Spurs backline?
    *   **Midfield Control:** The duel between West Ham's Paqueta/Soucek and Spurs' likely pairing of Sarr/Bissouma will be crucial for dictating the game's tempo.
    *   **Exploiting Fatigue/Focus:** West Ham will aim to test the concentration and energy levels of a Spurs side potentially distracted by their Europa League ambitions.

This EPL tactical analysis suggests a potentially disjointed game, heavily influenced by Tottenham's rotation strategy.

## Summary and Key Takeaways

This London derby pits two Premier League teams in poor domestic form against each other. West Ham, despite home advantage, are struggling for wins and confidence under Graham Potter. Tottenham arrive with significant injury problems and their primary focus likely shifted to the upcoming Europa League semi-final second leg, meaning heavy rotation is almost certain.

*   **Prediction Recap:** A 1-1 draw is predicted, reflecting both teams' struggles and Spurs' likely weakened side.
*   **Key Betting Angles:** The Draw (2/1) and BTTS: Yes look like solid considerations. West Ham Draw No Bet could be a cautious alternative.
*   **Fantasy Football Tips:** A risky fixture for FPL managers. West Ham's **Jarrod Bowen** or **Mohamed Kudus** offer potential if they start well. For Spurs, **Dejan Kulusevski** is the most likely source of points if selected, while **Richarlison** is a punt upfront. Avoid defenders from both teams.

**Final Prediction:** Expect a tense and potentially scrappy encounter at the London Stadium. While West Ham have a good opportunity on paper against a depleted and distracted Spurs, their own poor form and defensive lapses suggest they might struggle to take full advantage. A low-scoring draw feels the most likely outcome in this battle near the bottom of the EPL table.