In a re-match of the London derby that all-but ended Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge last season, Mauricio Pochettino will be vying to bounce back from yet another Wembley set-back.
The stakes may not be as high at the London Stadium this weekend but it’s an important match at both ends of the table, with the job of West Ham manager Slaven Bilic still hanging by a thread and Tottenham needing another win on the road to balance out their inability to win at their new home.
And the outcome of the match itself will no doubt be determined by the smaller battles that take place across the park, not least the heavyweight battle between Andy Carroll and Davinson Sanchez.
The West Ham striker has undeniably lifted spirits around east London following his return from injury against Huddersfield, leading their charge to four points from their last two league matches.
Yet the England international will come up against a stern challenge in the form of the 21-year-old Colombian, who has taken to life in the top-flight like a duck to water with some impressive displays.
But ahead of the clash at the London Stadium, who merits a better Draft Fantasy pick?
On the face of it, there aren’t many people that would think about picking Carroll considering the solidity and physical prowess that Sanchez has added to the Spurs defence in his three games so far.
He adds a whole new dimension to the back-line, with his acceleration and no-nonsense attitude complementing the more ball-playing styles of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen well to date.
Consecutive Premier League clean sheets from his opening two top-flight games also suggests that Tottenham have found a system that works with Sanchez in it and they’re now a well-organised unit.
However, he will face a whole new ball-game against the West Ham target-man, with Everton posing little threat on his full-debut and Swansea City barely getting near the Spurs goal in their draw last weekend, and Carroll will provide a physical battle that really tests what young Sanchez is made of.
In just 162 minutes of action since his return he’s won 20 of his 26 aerial duels, giving West Ham a focal point in the opposition half, and his potent threat in the air will cause problems for the visitors.
By contrast, Sanchez has come out on top in just five of his eight aerial battles to date, and has completed just one of his ten attempted tackles, something that Carroll could exploit on Saturday.
Tottenham will take the short trip to the London Stadium expecting a positive result, and another Premier League clean sheets, but don’t bet against Carroll having something to say on that matter.
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