Paul Merson predicts who will win when Tottenham face West Ham on Saturday. Tottenham are ninth in the Premier League after seven games and haven’t been consistent enough since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are coming on the back of a disappointing defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion where they threw away a two-goal first-half lead to lose 3-2.
Despite their troubles, it’s still early doors and a London derby against a West Ham United side that has struggled this season gives them the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways.
And Paul Merson feels Tottenham will have just about enough to secure all three points.
The Hammers replaced David Moyes with Julen Lopetegui at the helm at the end of last season and enjoyed a productive transfer window, spending close to 120m on nine new signings.
However, they have struggled to get going and have won just twice so far as they find themselves 12th in the league standings.
Merson feels Tottenham will secure a 2-1 win at home as Lopetegui is yet to find his best XI at West Ham.
“West Ham have not lived up to the expectations. When Julen Lopetegui finds his best XI, they will start firing,” wrote Merson in his column for Sportskeeda.
“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 need to show more consistency
Spurs’ three losses this season have come against Arsenal, Newcastle United and Brighton and it could be argued that they should have got at least a draw in each of those games if they kept their composure.
Read More: Ange Postecoglou accepts why Tottenham fans may disagree with his trophy plans
Their loss to Brighton before the international break, in particular, was a bad result for them as they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they went into the interval with a two-goal lead.
Postecoglou has a relatively young squad at his disposal, but his players have enough quality to see off games and show a bit more consistency.
And the game against a struggling West Ham side presents them with the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways in the Premier League after the international break.
