If Tottenham were a pudding, what would they be?

Crumble? Sounds harsh, but hey I've said it now!

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports about Son Heung-Min and Richarlison returning to the team: "It is great for both of them. Sonny was frustrated at missing the last game, he hasn't really played at all this year. They're both key players for us in many respects.

On Yves Bissouma starting: "Bissouma gives us something different in our build-up, I felt for today's game he would be a better fit."

On his team bouncing back after the defeat to Brighton: "The proof will be in the pudding. It is important that we reflect on that game in the way we should. It is not like it's out of our reach if we replicate what we did in the first half.

"It is a great motivator as we know what a win will do four our fans. We need them behind us and we can get their energy going if we get a positive result today."

Thanks Ed. Tottenham finished the 1994-95 season in seventh for those interested. West Ham came 14th.

Blackburn won the title and Manchester City were 17th.

As Julen says, derbies mean more.

Spurs have lost four of their past six Premier League London derbies.

West Ham are undefeated in three away London derbies, winning one and drawing two.

West Ham United

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West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, speaking to TNT Sports: "We choose one line-up thinking from the last match. Fortunately we have many players who can stay in the line-up and today we have chosen this line-up.

"The past is the past. We play against a big team with big quality at home. We have to be ready with a good answer."

On the game being a London Derby: "It always means more if you get three points. We know this about the fans, but we put our focus on the pitch."

West Ham got the win they needed against Ipswich before the international break, but it was a very different story for Tottenham against Brighton.

It is typical, really, because everyone had been singing Ange Postecoglou’s praises following Spurs’ win at Manchester United the previous week, talking about how he had built a team with an identity... but then they fell apart in the second half against the Seagulls.

I don’t think Spurs’ defeat was down to his style of football, though. It was because of shocking defending, and the way they lost duels all over the pitch.

I am expecting them to bounce back here, helped by the fact that Son Heung-min is in contention after a few weeks out.

I’ve been saying it for a while now, but Tottenham are going to give someone an absolute hiding sooner or later. I don’t think it will happen against the Hammers, but I do think they will win this one easily enough.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

We get carried away with hyperbole a lot with football, but, just as a statement, "worst defeat since I've been here" is huge.

Like, it's got to result is some kind of reaction.

The equivalent of throwing a water bottle in Football Manager.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou called his side's collapse against Brighton last time out "probably the worst defeat since I've been here".

Spurs were 2-0 up after 37 minutes and heading for their sixth successive win in all competitions after goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, but conceded three times in the second half as Brighton took the three points.

"It was disappointing and I’m absolutely gutted with that," said Postecoglou.

"It's an unacceptable second half - we were nowhere near where we should be. Maybe we got carried away with how we were going.

"We kind of accepted our fate and it's hard to understand as we've not done that while I've been here. We usually fight for everything, and when you don’t you pay a price."

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You all read my piece on the fastest players in the Premier League this season, right?

Tottenham's Micky van de Ven is, of course, up there.

There's also info on distance covered and who walks the most. Max Kilman has walked for 27.5km during games this season - who knew?

As always, we want you to have your say on the football.

Get in touch using the usual channels. Home win? Away shock? How do you see our early kick-off going?

Our early game is a London derby. The ingredients are all there for a classic.

Tottenham can be very, very good and very, very bad all in the same game.

In their last outing, just before the break, they were cruising, 2-0 up at Brighton. But then it went sour. Three quick goals and Ange Postecoglou's side slumped to their first defeat in five.

West Ham ended a four-match Premier League winless run by absolutely hammering Ipswich 4-1 last time out.

That match saw the Hammers take the lead inside a minute too.

These two side's are, in a word, entertaining.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Son.

West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.

Image source, Getty Images

It's back!

Oh Premier League how I've missed you; the international break just isn't the same.

I want to go into a Saturday wondering which Tottenham side will show up. Whether Manchester United will either find that winning formula, or sink even lower.

I want the relentlessness of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool's winning machines. I want to know if a fifth of the division will still be without a victory by Sunday night.

The Premier League's returned, the anticipation is building. Let's do this.