Alan Shearer predicts winner of Tottenham v West Ham United with 'huge' verdict

Alan Shearer believes Tottenham Hotspur will edge West Ham United as the two sides meet in a "huge" encounter on Saturday afternoon [19 October].

The all-London clash kicks off the Premier League's return from the international break, and sees Julen Lopetegui attempt to secure back-to-back wins after breaking his side's home duck with a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.

Spurs are desperate to get the ball rolling again following a second-half capitulation to lose at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

"This is a big game for Ange Postecoglou. It’s a huge game for Spurs after what happened to them last time at Brighton," Shearer wrote in his Metro predictions column [18 October].

"He has said himself that the biggest disappointment of his Spurs reign so far was the way they crumbled when winning 2-0 last time out.

"West Ham will take some encouragement from that performance; they can be brave, and they might believe they can get something out of the game. Ange will be looking and demanding a real performance after what happened in the last game, and because of that, I’ll go for Tottenham to edge it, just."

West Ham United underdogs at Tottenham

The majority in the media appear to be siding with Tottenham for this game, but on recent viewing, there are several vulnerabilities that can be exploited by Lopetegui's Hammers.

West Ham have enjoyed some memorable matches against Spurs down the years and would take a point from North London, having shown their mettle against Ipswich with a supreme attacking display.

Lopetegui knows that unlike in the Ipswich contest, the pressure is not quite as extreme, which could benefit against an expectant and agitated home crowd.

Having said that, fans want more out of their head coach given the shaky start to the Premier League season, which sees the Irons struggling to emerge quickly from their "transition" period culminating from a major squad surgery in the summer.

If the Hammers can edge in front against Postecoglou's side, it will throw the cat among the pigeons for a lively encounter which always promises a charged atmosphere.

In other West Ham news, a potential move for a Chelsea star is analysed.

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