West Ham United FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC, free match prediction 21 Feb 2021

WEST HAM UNITED FC vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC Match Preview & Analysis

West Ham are the form side coming into this one, though you can certainly never write off a Jose Mourinho side, particularly when his back is against the wall.

The Hammers have won six of their last eight in the league and temporarily sat in 4^th before Chelsea’s recent return to form. Make no mistake, however, this is a side who will be challenging for the European spots right until the end of the season.

The last time West Ham earned this many points after 24 games, they went on to finish third, back in 1985. Should the same happen again, there won’t be a soul who can claim they don’t deserve it.

Spurs have flattered to deceive over the past couple of months. Having started the season with an absolute bang, topping the table for over a month, the form and fitness of their star players has waned and their league position has slipped considerably.

Currently, they’re as close to Crystal Palace in 14^th as they are to the top four and they’ve got a big test ahead of them.

Teams Preview

West Ham United FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LWDLW

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Only recent defeat in the league came against Liverpool

     Antonio should be fit to start up front after fatigue absence

Reasons to be fearful:

     Spurs found form in the midweek Europa League game, scoring four

     Attempting to avoid four successive defeats against Spurs

The Hammers are in fantastic scoring form right now, having put 11 goals past their opponents across their last eight matches. 

This run of form saw them briefly rise into the top four, only to slip back a place after their disappointing 0-0 draw at Fulham a couple of weeks ago.

Although star striker Michail Antonio has been in and out of the team this season, missing recently through fatigue, his absence has not been noticed with the likes of Fredericks, Bowen and Soucek all stepping up.

Against Spurs, they will see no reason to adjust their positive approach, with their opponents struggling in front of goal themselves.

Can The Hammers end their poor run against Spurs here? They’ve lost their previous three meetings.

Star Man – Michail Antonio

Transforms this West Ham side when he is fit enough to play. Can be a goal threat as well as holding up the ball for his teammates.

Tottenham Hotspur FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LWLLW

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Big midweek win in Europe will boost confidence

     Star players have great records against their opponents

Reasons to be fearful:

     Lost four of their last five league games

     Conceding more goals than a Mourinho team is used to

Spurs league season has taken a turn for the worse over the past couple of months, with the club’s spiralling poor form forcing them down to 9th in the table, a position fans would have thought impossible as they topped the table back in December.

Having scored 17 goals between them in the opening 10 games of the season, Son and Kane have just six combined from their last 10 in the league.

They’ve also been conceding goals at a rather alarming rate too, with eight going in from their last five, something which is very unlike a Jose Mourinho side.

Against West Ham, they’ll surely look to stifle the threat of Antonio up front, as well as blocking the runs into the box which Soucek has excelled at this season, scoring eight goals.

Star Man – Harry Kane

With 11 goals in 15 appearances, his record against West Ham is the second-best of his career (he has 14 vs. Leicester).