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Two boosts and a blow: Spurs injury update before AZ Alkmaar clash

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has revealed that Son Heung-min will not be involved in Thursday's Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar.

The Spurs skipper returned from a hamstring problem in the weekend's 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United in the Premier League, marking his comeback with a goal against Julen Lopetegui's side.

However, Son was a notable absentee from Spurs' training session on Wednesday morning, fuelling fears that he may have suffered a fresh setback after spending three games out with his initial hamstring problem.

Postecoglou was asked about Son's fitness straight away in his pre-game press conference, and the Australian confirmed that the 32-year-old would not be involved on Thursday, although that was always the plan regardless of how he fared at the weekend.

Djed Spence was also absent from team training after picking up a groin strain last week, but Postecoglou did not deliver a detailed update on him, saying: "Sonny was a bit sore after the weekend, he was never going to be involved tomorrow anyway because he missed a bit," as quoted by football.london.

Postecoglou provides positive Richarlison, Wilson Odobert updates

"So we are just leaving him out of tomorrow and see how he is from there. Djed Spence trained individually today. Everyone else was out there."

Son's absence could open the door for Richarlison or Wilson Odobert to earn some minutes in his place, as the former endeavours to make his first start of the season in any competition after returning from his own issue off the bench at the weekend.

Asked if the Brazilian could start Thursday's match, Postecoglou replied: "Yeah, yeah. Richy got through the weekend really well, he's trained, this is almost the second week of training now, so he's ready to go in terms of being available, for sure."

However, the Tottenham boss is unsurprisingly taking a more cautious approach with Odobert, who has missed Spurs' last six games in all competitions with the hamstring injury he suffered against Coventry City in the EFL Cup last month.

"Yeah, potentially," Postecoglou replied when asked if Odobert could see the field against AZ. "Again, we've got to be a bit more careful with him because he's missed a lot.

"He's only had this week of training. He'll be involved tomorrow, in the squad. Game-time will be game-dependent with him but good to get him back and after this week he should be fully available."

Postecoglou responds to Tottenham fine from West Ham incident

Earlier on Wednesday, Tottenham were fined £20,000 by the Football Association after admitting to a charge of failing to control their players in the win over West Ham, where a late fracas saw Irons attacker Mohammed Kudus sent off.

Postecoglou was loath to discuss the incident in detail, though, saying: "We've been fined. All I said was I think we handled it the best we could but the FA thought it wasn't a good look and has fined us for it."

Tottenham boast a perfect record of six points from their first two games of the 2024-25 Europa League, seeing off Qarabag 3-1 before a nervy 2-1 win over Ferencvaros at the start of October.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar triumphed 3-2 over Elfsborg in their opening battle before losing 2-0 to La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao on matchday two.

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Tottenham transfer news: Spurs set Pedro Porro asking price amid Man City interest?

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly placed a £80m price tag on Manchester City target Pedro Porro.

The 25-year-old has been one of Ange Postecoglou's star performers in North London since making the switch from Sporting Lisbon on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023.

During his first full campaign in the Premier League, Porro made 35 appearances for the Champions League-chasing Lilywhites, scoring three goals and providing seven assists.

The Spaniard has not produced as much attacking output so far in the 2024-25 campaign, managing just the single goal across eight top-flight fixtures.

Alongside Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Porro has formed a promising backline for Tottenham under Australian coach Postecoglou.

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Tottenham set price tag for Man City-linked Porro?

According to Football Insider, Tottenham have laid down a marker for potential suitors in the race to secure the services of Pedro in the near future.

The report claims that the Lilywhites value the 25-year-old at £80m following his impressive displays in the Premier League over the past year.

It is understood that Manchester City are monitoring the situation of Porro ahead of a potential swoop during the summer transfer window of 2025.

With the Spaniard's current contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expiring in the summer of 2028, Spurs will be able to drive a hard bargain for the player.

Porro is set to be in action for Postecoglou's troops as they welcome Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar to North London for a League Phase contest in the Europa League.

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Man City need a Walker successor

A stalwart during an era of success under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, Kyle Walker is approaching the end of his time at the top level of professional football.

The England international will be 35 years old by the end of the campaign, meaning that the Citizens need to start thinking about recruiting a successor.

Entering the prime years of his career, Tottenham's Porro represents a solid replacement who has already proven his ability to perform in the Premier League.

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Tottenham lineup vs. AZ Alkmaar: Predicted XI for Europa League contest

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Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison could make his first start of the season when they welcome AZ Alkmaar to North London in the Europa League on Thursday.

Richarlison had been missing since the 4-0 win over Everton in mid-August, with an issue that was often shrouded in mystery by manager Ange Postecoglou.

The Brazilian returned to the matchday squad at the weekend though, and was brought on for the final 10 minutes as Tottenham cruised to a 4-1 win over West Ham United.

Also back from injury at the weekend was Son Heung-min, with the Spurs skipper finding the net in an eight-minute spell where Postecoglou's side finished West Ham off early in the second half.

After missing South Korea duty though, and only just being passed fit to face West Ham at the eleventh hour, Son could be given a rest here to protect him for the weekend trip to Crystal Palace.

Returning from suspension is Radu Dragusin, as the central defender sat out the win over Ferencvaros after being sent off inside 10 minutes against Qarabag on matchday one.

That will provide Postecoglou with the opportunity to rest both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, and after playing twice for Romania during the international break, Dragusin's match fitness is assured.

On the injury front, two players that could have been of great use to Postecoglou will miss out, as a hamstring injury to Wilson Odobert and groin strain picked up by Djed Spence will rule them both out.

Having now played 90 minutes in six successive matches, Pedro Porro could be in line for a rest, but that would require Archie Gray to move into an unorthodox full-back role again, but the teenager was widely praised for his performance at centre-back against Ferencvaros.

Another young prodigy, Mikey Moore, also received rave reviews for his performance in Budapest, and the 17-year-old could be rewarded with another start in attack here for Tottenham.

After scoring in both Europa League games so far, and in seven straight matches for club and country, Brennan Johnson's hot streak finally came to an end at the weekend, and the Welshman is likely to start as a substitute here.

James Maddison was pulled off at half time in the win over West Ham at the weekend, posing a possible injury concern, but it was soon confirmed that the decision was purely tactical, and the midfielder is available, even though it is likely he will also be rested.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner

Click here to see how AZ Alkmaar could line up for this Europa League contest.

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Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar

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One of the competition favourites Tottenham Hotspur continue their pursuit of a long-awaited trophy when they host out-of-form AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday.

Ange Postecoglou's side returned to form with a crushing victory over London rivals West Ham United on Saturday, and are still on maximum points in this competition.

Match preview

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After an underwhelming start and a complete capitulation away to Brighton & Hove Albion shortly before the international break, a positive result was much needed in front of a home crowd for Tottenham at the weekend.

Despite an early scare that saw the Hammers go in front, Spurs rallied to level before the interval, and an eight-minute second-half salvo saw them plunder a further three goals beyond a hapless West Ham side in an ultimately routine 4-1 victory.

Thoughts of what could have been after their trip to the Amex remain though, as Spurs should have been out of sight, but still conspired to lose the game, meaning they are still four points off the top four despite Saturday's success.

The Europa League could be seen as a priority for manager Postecoglou though, considering he has promised Tottenham fans a trophy this season, and they have made an excellent start to the league phase.

In the last seven games, the only outing Spurs have failed to win was that trip to Brighton, and their opening two Europa League games ended in victory during that spell.

Despite going down to 10 men inside 10 minutes against Qarabag, Spurs still managed to win 3-0, and they produced a professional away performance in Budapest to beat Ferencvaros on matchday two.

That leaves Spurs as one of five clubs still to have a 100% record in the UEL, with only Lazio and Lyon above them on goal difference.

Extending that to three wins from three appears a huge possibility too, considering Spurs have won all six Europa League games at their new stadium without conceding a goal.

Across all European competitions, Spurs are imperious at home too, having gone unbeaten in their last 14 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - winning 12.

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For AZ, they could not have picked a worse time to face their most difficult assignment on paper in the league phase, with Maarten Martens's side in the midst of a four-game losing run - their worst sequence in 22 years.

Since defeating Elfsborg on matchday one, the Alkmaar club have seriously struggled with the increase in quality of their opponents.

The next Europa League fixture saw them travel to Athletic Bilbao, a club who very rarely fail to win at home, and they had to face a dominant PSV Eindhoven side over the weekend.

Losing to both Utrecht at home and Fortuna Sittard is where the disappointment lies though, and those three consecutive league defeats have seen them plummet to fifth, with Martens's side now closer to the relegation zone than they are to PSV.

That is a remarkable statistic when it is taken into consideration that AZ took 16 points from a possible 18 to start the campaign, and the signs do not look great ahead of this trip to London either.

AZ have lost all eight previous European fixtures in England, conceding at least twice in each, while they have also lost five of their last six games on the road across all venues in European competition.

Tottenham Hotspur Europa League form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

AZ Alkmaar Europa League form:

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Spurs are set to be without Wilson Odobert and Djed Spence for this one in a blow to Postecoglou's plans, as both would have been in contention to start in order to give a rest to some first-choice options.

One of those is Pedro Porro, as the Spurs right-back has played 90 minutes in six straight games, including away in Hungary on matchday two, and twice for Spain during the international break.

After sitting out the Ferencvaros win due to suspension, Radu Dragusin will return here and is likely to start so Postecoglou can hand a rest to his two starting central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Just a few months after leaving the club on a permanent deal, AZ striker Troy Parrott will return to the club where he spent seven years on the books, looking to find another goal on the continent after scoring the winner against Elfsborg.

Ibrahim Sadiq is a doubt after he returned from Ghana duty with an injury, joining the likes of Bruno Martins Indi, Mexx Merdink and Wouter Goes on the sidelines.

David Moller Wolfe's weekend red card will have no effect on his availability here, but the defender will be suspended when AZ face Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Dekker, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans, Koopmeiners; Buurmeester, Parrott, Van Bommel

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 AZ Alkmaar

Spurs have looked composed and comfortable in the Europa League so far despite an early red card against Qarabag and late consolation by Ferencvaros.

AZ's woeful recent form, struggles in England and Spurs' excellent home record in this competition suggests there is only one winner from this contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Chelsea, Tottenham 'in hot pursuit' of £30m

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Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly retain an interest in signing Lecce wide man Patrick Dorgu, despite the fact that he has only just extended his contract.

Over the summer, it was reported that all of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United - who viewed Dorgu as an ideal successor to Luke Shaw - were showing an interest in the Denmark international.

However, the transfer window slammed shut with Dorgu still on the books at Lecce, who paid just £166,000 to bring the teenager to the club from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland in 2023.

The 2004-born talent has since made a name for himself on the left-hand side, excelling in both an attacking and defensive position on the right and left-hand side for the Serie A side.

Dorgu has now scored three goals and set up one more in 42 appearances for Lecce, who announced on Friday that he had signed a new long-term contract extension until the summer of 2029.

Chelsea, Tottenham 'unfazed' by Dorgu extension

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Nevertheless, The Mirror claims that both Spurs and Chelsea remain in 'hot pursuit' of the promising teenager, and Lecce are under no illusions that he will likely secure a marquee move elsewhere soon.

While Dorgu has largely played on the right-hand side this season, Spurs are said to have earmarked him as an ideal option on the left flank, as both Ben Davies and Sergio Reguilon could leave in 2025.

The duo's prospective exits would leaves Destiny Udogie short of cover on that side, but Djed Spence has just signed a contract extension of his own after an unexpected revival under Ange Postecoglou.

Should Tottenham pursue a deal for Dorgu in 2025, Lecce would apparently hold out for at least £30m to let the teenager leave, after quoting interested partied a fee of £25m over the summer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's plan for Dorgu reportedly involved adding the youngster to their ranks through sister club Strasbourg, but the move did not materialise due to the numbers involved being too complex.

Premier League clubs handed hope in Dorgu pursuit

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However, the report adds that Dorgu's agent is connected to a top British agency that conducts operations with several Premier League clubs, offering Spurs and Chelsea hope of a future deal.

Tottenham are thought to be at the head of the queue at this moment in time, but Dorgu is known to be a Chelsea supporter, which may or may not play a part in negotiations.

The 6ft 1in teenager made his debut for the Denmark senior team in September, coming off the bench and scoring in a UEFA Nations League win over Switzerland, and he has since made another two appearances for his country.

This season, Dorgu has one goal to show from eight appearances across the Italian top flight and Coppa Italia, albeit while also being sent off in a 1-0 win over Cagliari in August.

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1 West Ham United: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Tottenham pile misery on Hammers in derby

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Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from their humiliating 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 6 with a 4-1 victory on Saturday afternoon against Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Hammers opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Jarrod Bowen fired a ball across the box from the right of the six-yard box towards an unmarked Mohammed Kudus, who swept past Guglielmo Vicario.

Dejan Kulusevski equalised for the hosts in the 36th minute after cutting inside from the right of the box and seeing his strike bounce off both posts before trickling in, before Yves Bissouma gave Spurs the lead in 53rd minute when Destiny Udogie teed the midfielder from inside the penalty area.

Postecoglou's side took a 3-1 lead just two minutes later courtesy of an own goal from Alphonse Areola after the ball deflected off Jean-Clair Todibo and onto the goalkeeper following a shot from Son Heung-min, but the forward got his goal in the 60th minute after carrying the ball into the penalty area before beating Todibo and Areola.

The victory means Spurs have now collected 13 points from eight matchweeks and they are now just one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

As for West Ham, they have won just three times in 10 games under the management of Lopetegui, and are in 14th place with only eight points from eight Premier League games, just five points more than 18th-placed Crystal Palace.

After his strong showing against Ipswich Town last time out on October 5, Bowen continued his fine form and registered his second assist of the season after he twisted past Udogie and played towards Kudus, who had been left free in the box by Pedro Porro.

Kulusevski levelled the scoreline when James Maddison carried the ball forward during a counter-attack before passing to the Swede who cut inside from the right and struck a shot off of the right post, which bounced onto the left and eventually crossed the line.

Spurs blitzed the Hammers in the second half, with Bissouma scoring after Udogie made an underlapping run into the penalty area and cut back towards the edge of the box, before Son forced an own goal when his effort was deflected onto Todibo and then Areola.

Pape Sarr brilliantly won the ball back from inside his own half, playing a defence-splitting pass into West Ham's half to Son, who carried the ball into the box and beat Todibo with trickery and beat Areola with a left-footed from the left of the six-yard box into the left of the net.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. WEST HAM UNITED HIGHLIGHTS

Mohammed Kudus goal vs. Tottenham Hotspur (18th min, Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 West Ham United)

Dejan Kulusevski goal vs. West Ham United (36th min, Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Ham United)

Yves Bissouma goal vs. West Ham United (53rd min, Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United)

Alphonse Areola own goal vs. West Ham United (55th min, Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 West Ham United)

Son Heung-min goal vs. West Ham United (60th min, Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 West Ham United)

MAN OF THE MATCH - DEJAN KULUSEVSKI

© Imago

Prior to Postecoglou's arrival at Spurs, Kulusevski was seen by many as a creative winger but the Swede has been allowed to showcase his creative abilities in more central zones, including against West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

The Spurs man produced one goal, created two chances and played four passes into the final third, and managed to excellently link play from midfield to the forward line.

On top of his strong showing on the ball, Kulusevski was also combative out of possession, winning eight of his 14 duels and making eight recoveries.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. WEST HAM UNITED MATCH STATS

Possession: Tottenham Hotspur 57%-43% West Ham United

Shots: Tottenham Hotspur 22-11 West Ham United

Shots on target: Tottenham Hotspur 7-4 West Ham United

Corners: Tottenham Hotspur 13-5 West Ham United

Fouls: Tottenham Hotspur 10-15 West Ham United

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Tottenham are set to host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in their third Europa League game of the season, before travelling to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Meanwhile, West Ham have no midweek game but will play Manchester United on Sunday at the London Stadium, before facing Nottingham Forest on November 2.

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Saturday's Premier League predictions including Bournemouth vs. Arsenal

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Spurs vs. West Ham (Saturday, 12.30pm)

© Imago

Premier League football returns from the international break with an intriguing London derby on Saturday lunchtime, as Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United in the lunchtime kickoff.

The Lilywhites suffered a calamitous capitulation in a 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion before the hiatus, while the Irons restored a sense of pride by thumping Ipswich Town 4-1.

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham United

The first Premier League game back after the international break promises entertainment, as both Spurs and West Ham are forces to be reckoned with in the final third while also possessing defensive weaknesses for the other to exploit.

Another 3-2 involving Postecoglou's side is not beyond the realm of possibility, but on this occasion, we expect a refreshed Spurs to come out on the right end of such a scoreline.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Antonio out to match Giggs record: How West Ham could line up against Spurs

> Will the Son come back out? Spurs predicted XI against West Ham

> Will Son return? Tottenham injury, suspension list for West Ham clash

Fulham vs. Aston Villa (Saturday, 3.00pm)

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Aston Villa will be looking to climb back into the top four of the Premier League when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions claimed maximum points in their last meeting with the Cottagers, as a brace from Ollie Watkins sealed a 2-1 away victory in February.

We say: Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa did the double over Fulham last season and will be confident of success again this weekend. However, the Cottagers have looked strong on home soil and will be no pushovers for Emery's side. With that in mind, we can see the hosts frustrating the visitors and the spoils being shared.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Duran to start? Carlos recalled? Predicted Aston Villa lineup vs. Fulham

> Smith Rowe, Muniz to start? Predicted Fulham lineup vs. Aston Villa

Ipswich vs. Everton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

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The two sides sat just above the Premier League relegation zone meet at Portman Road on Saturday, when Ipswich Town host Everton.

This will be the first meeting between the two clubs in over 20 years, and the Toffees will certainly hope they can improve on the results they suffered when the Tractor Boys were last a top-tier outfit.

We say: Ipswich Town 1-1 Everton

Everton's troubles on the road are well-documented, as they are without a win away from Goodison since mid-December, and Ipswich have proven difficult to beat at home since their return to the top flight.

Only Liverpool have won here at Portman Road so far, but unfortunately for Ipswich, that also includes them, and while this will be pinpointed as a winnable encounter, there is little to separate the sides.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Ex-Toffee to make first start of the season? Ipswich predicted XI vs. Everton

> Will Branthwaite, Ndiaye be fit? Everton predicted lineup vs. Ipswich

Man Utd vs. Brentford (Saturday, 3.00pm)

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Manchester United will be looking to end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome Brentford to Old Trafford for a Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams meet for the first time since March when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Mason Mount's 96th-minute strike was cancelled out in dramatic fashion by a 99th-minute Kristoffer Ajer equaliser.

We say: Manchester United 2-2 Brentford

While Brentford can travel to Old Trafford without any pressure on their shoulders, that cannot be said for Ten Hag who can ill-afford to see his Man United side produce another below-par performance on home soil, where they have lost their last two league games by a 3-0 scoreline.

Both teams - who will not be at full strength on Saturday - have looked vulnerable in defence this season and goals are to be expected here, but it is difficult to confidently predict a winner on this occasion, so an entertaining score draw could be on the cards.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Will Damsgaard, Norgaard, Jensen return? Predicted Brentford lineup vs. Man United

> Evans at left-back? Zirkzee up front? Predicted Man United lineup vs. Brentford

> Mainoo, Garnacho update: Man United injury, suspension news vs. Brentford

Newcastle vs. Brighton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

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Two teams level on points in the Premier League table do battle at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon as Newcastle United play host to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Magpies and the Seagulls played out a 1-1 draw in the North East the last time they butted heads in May of last season, with Joel Veltman's opener cancelled out by Sean Longstaff.

We say: Newcastle United 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Each of Brighton's last four games have seen at least four goals scored and another entertaining end-to-end contest could be on the cards at St James' Park this weekend.

Newcastle have a solid home record against Brighton, but we are backing the Seagulls to come away with at least a share of the spoils on this occasion.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Baleba boost, Van Hecke return: Predicted Brighton lineup vs. Newcastle

> Will Isak, Wilson return? Predicted Newcastle lineup vs. Brighton

Southampton vs. Leicester (Saturday, 3.00pm)

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Two newly-promoted sides vie for three precious Premier League points on Saturday afternoon, as Southampton welcome Leicester City to St Mary's.

The Saints put in a good shift against Arsenal two weekends ago but ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat, whereas the Foxes finally found their bite in a 1-0 triumph over Bournemouth.

We say: Southampton 1-1 Leicester City

Defending was not on Southampton's agenda in either meeting with Leicester last season, but the Saints could be incredibly proud of their rearguard efforts for an hour against Arsenal before silly mistakes let them down.

Martin's men should not come out unscathed against a Leicester side who always come good in the final third, but the Foxes have already shipped eight goals on the road this term and may have to accept one point, albeit one that leaves the hosts still searching for that elusive victory.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Vardy aiming to extend golden streak: Leicester predicted XI against Southampton

> Archer or Onuachu? How Southampton could line up against Leicester

Bournemouth vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 5.30pm)

© Imago

Arsenal will spend Saturday evening at the top of the Premier League table should they pass the Bournemouth test at the Vitality Stadium in Saturday's 5.30pm kickoff.

The Gunners made it four wins on the spin with a 3-1 come-from-behind success versus Southampton two weekends ago, while the Cherries were bested 1-0 by a hitherto winless Leicester City.

We say: Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal

As toothless as Arsenal's first-half performance was against Southampton, Arteta kept his big-hitters in reserve before calling on the cavalry in the second half, and there is hope that both Saka and the in-form Martinelli will be given the green light to feature here.

The Gunners should therefore pick up where they left off before the hiatus, as Bournemouth have been indifferent in front of goal and have flattered to deceive versus top-10 sides in 2024.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> One change from Iraola? How Bournemouth could line up against Arsenal

> Will Saka, Martinelli play? How Arsenal could line up against Bournemouth

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Preview: Chelsea Women vs. Tottenham Hotspur Women

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Chelsea Women will go head-to-head with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur Women in Sunday's Women's Super League clash at Kingsmeadow.

The hosts have taken maximum points from their three league games, while the visitors have collected four points from as many matches.

Match preview

© Imago

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has made an impressive start to her tenure, having overseen five consecutive victories in all competitions, including three wins in the WSL.

The Blues kicked off their league campaign with wins over Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, before they edged out Arsenal in last Sunday's encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore grabbed a goal apiece to fire Chelsea to a 2-1 victory, ensuring they are still one of two teams with a 100% record in the WSL.

Chelsea enjoyed another successful outing in Thursday's Women's Champions League clash against Twente, with Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Guro Reiten all finding the net in a 3-1 away victory.

The Blues will fancy their chances of claiming another win in Sunday's fixture, having won each of their last four home league games without conceding.

They have also won all of their nine WSL home games against Tottenham, including a narrow 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting in May.

Tottenham have experienced an underwhelming start to the WSL campaign, having won just one of their first four league matches.

© Imago

That sole win took place on the opening day of the season when they produced a free-scoring display to cruise to a 4-0 victory over newly-promoted Crystal Palace.

Spurs managed to salvage a point in their away game against Aston Villa, but they have failed to take anything from their last two matches.

Robert Vilahamn's side fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat in their home meeting with Liverpool, before they were swept aside in last Sunday's clash against Manchester United.

Elisabeth Terland netted a brace before Maya Le Tissier scored a second-half penalty to condemn Spurs to a heavy 3-0 defeat at Leigh Sports Village, extending Tottenham's winless away run to five league matches.

Having conceded eight goals in fourth matches, Tottenham will head into the weekend with the second-worst defensive record in the top flight.

Spurs will have to tighten up defensively if they are to have any hope of taking at least a point off Chelsea for the first time in their WSL history.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Tottenham Hotspur Women Women's Super League form:

Tottenham Hotspur Women form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Chelsea remain without the services of Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, Sophie Ingle, Aniek Nouwen and Niamh Charles due to injury.

England international Lauren James will have to be assessed after she sustained a foot injury in the warm-up against Twente.

After making several changes in midweek, Bompastor is set to recall Hannah Hampton, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Sjoeke Nusken, Ramirez and Reiten.

As for the visitors, Vilahamn has revealed that midfielder Maite Oroz will miss six to eight weeks with a quad injury.

The 26-year-old is joined on the sidelines by Shuang Wang, Amy James-Turner, Ella Morris, Hayley Raso and Kit Graham.

Spurs will make a late decision over Amanda Nilden's availability after the defender missed the 3-0 defeat to Man United.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Buchanan, Baltimore; Kaptein, Nusken; Rytting Kaneryd, Hamano, Reiten; Ramirez

Tottenham Hotspur Women possible starting lineup:

Spencer; Neville, Bartrip, Hunt, Grant; Summanen, Ahtinen; Naz, Spence, England; Thomas

We say: Chelsea Women 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur Women

Chelsea tend to fare well in meetings with Tottenham, and with the Blues full of confidence, we think they will claim another head-to-head victory to maintain their 100% start to the season.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United: Head

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Two London rivals collide in Saturday's 12.30pm Premier League kickoff, as Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United scrap it out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first game back since the international break.

Prior to the October hiatus, Ange Postecoglou oversaw what he labelled his worst defeat since taking over as Tottenham manager, as his side let a 2-0 lead slip in a catastrophic 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.

In contrast, Julen Lopetegui's side destroyed Ipswich Town 4-1 to move up to 12th in the Premier League table, just three places below Tottenham, whom they will overtake with a victory on Saturday lunchtime.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.

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Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 223

Spurs wins: 101

Draws: 55

West Ham wins: 67

A capital clash that first took place back in the 19th century - back when Tottenham and West Ham competed in the Thames and Medway League - there have now been 223 competitive meetings between the Lilywhites and the Irons in all tournaments.

Spurs' win counter recently ticked over to the three figures, as they have triumphed in 101 of those previous battles, although West Ham have a respectable 67 wins to their name, while the other 55 matches ended in a split of the spoils.

The Hammers' most recent success in this London derby came during their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December 2023, where Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse delivered an early Christmas present to the Irons faithful after Cristian Romero's opener.

The Irons ended up taking four points off of Tottenham during David Moyes's farewell campaign, also holding Spurs to a 1-1 stalemate at the London Stadium in April 2024, marking the first time since the 2020-21 season that Tottenham had not beaten the Irons in a Premier League campaign.

During that coronavirus-impacted year, no fans were at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to witness one of West Ham's greatest turnarounds of all time; the Hammers were 3-0 down heading into the final 10 minutes, only to astonishingly rescue a point in a 3-3 draw thanks to a late Manuel Lanzini spectacular.

West Ham also got the better of Tottenham in both of their home games in 2021, but they now have just one victory to show from their last six against the Lilywhites, who have not lost back-to-back home matches against the Irons since England's triumphant World Cup year, 1966.

Tottenham vs. West Ham is a regular sight on the football calendar after a hiatus; the London rivals have previously met seven times in the Premier League immediately after an international break, and Spurs have not lost any of them.

Formerly of both Tottenham and West Ham, Jimmy Greaves is the highest goalscorer on record in this fixture with 13 goals, while Harry Kane struck 11 times against the Irons during his Spurs career.

Last 20 meetings

Apr 02, 2024: West Ham 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 07, 2023: Spurs 1-2 West Ham (Premier League)

Feb 19, 2023: Spurs 2-0 West Ham (Premier League)

Aug 31, 2022: West Ham 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 20, 2022: Spurs 3-1 West Ham (Premier League)

Dec 22, 2021: Spurs 2-1 West Ham (EFL Cup Quarter-Finals)

Oct 24, 2021: West Ham 1-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Feb 21, 2021: West Ham 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Oct 18, 2020: Spurs 3-3 West Ham (Premier League)

Jun 23, 2020: Spurs 2-0 West Ham (Premier League)

Nov 23, 2019: West Ham 2-3 Spurs (Premier League)

Apr 27, 2019: Spurs 0-1 West Ham (Premier League)

Oct 31, 2018: West Ham 1-3 Spurs (EFL Cup Fourth Round)

Oct 20, 2018: West Ham 0-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Jan 04, 2018: Spurs 1-1 West Ham (Premier League)

Oct 25, 2017: Spurs 2-3 West Ham (EFL Cup Fourth Round)

Sep 23, 2017: West Ham 2-3 Spurs (Premier League)

May 05, 2017: West Ham 1-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Nov 19, 2016: Spurs 3-2 West Ham (Premier League)

Mar 02, 2016: West Ham 1-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Last 10 Premier League meetings

Apr 02, 2024: West Ham 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 07, 2023: Spurs 1-2 West Ham (Premier League)

Feb 19, 2023: Spurs 2-0 West Ham (Premier League)

Aug 31, 2022: West Ham 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 20, 2022: Spurs 3-1 West Ham (Premier League)

Oct 24, 2021: West Ham 1-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Feb 21, 2021: West Ham 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Oct 18, 2020: Spurs 3-3 West Ham (Premier League)

Jun 23, 2020: Spurs 2-0 West Ham (Premier League)

Nov 23, 2019: West Ham 2-3 Spurs (Premier League)

Read more on Spurs vs West Ham

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Click here to read our full preview for Spurs vs West Ham

Will the Son come back out? Spurs predicted XI against West Ham

Antonio out to match Giggs record: How West Ham could line up against Spurs

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Tottenham lineup vs. West Ham: Predicted XI for Premier League London derby

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Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min should make his return to action in Saturday's Premier League London derby with West Ham United.

The South Korea international has missed his side's last three matches due to a thigh issue and had to pull out of the South Korea squad for the October break, but he has now had two uninterrupted weeks to get back up to speed.

As a result, Son will likely be given the green light to start in the lunchtime kickoff, while Richarlison and Lucas Bergvall are also in contention, but Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is still unavailable.

Timo Werner may have provided an assist for James Maddison against Brighton & Hove Albion before Tottenham's horrendous collapse in a 3-2 loss, but the German - who just cannot find his shooting boots - will certainly make way for a fit-again Son.

The Tottenham skipper will join Dominic Solanke and the irrepressible Brennan Johnson in attack, as the latter aims to score for the seventh match in a row for the Lilywhites after also netting for Wales against Iceland earlier this month.

In spite of his side's catastrophic collapse at Brighton, Ange Postecoglou should stick with the midfield trident of Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, the former of whom has played more passes into the penalty area than any other Premier League player this season (64).

The Spurs boss is also expected to keep faith with his tried-and-tested backline of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro in front of Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son

> Click here to see how West Ham could line up for this match

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