Tottenham Hotspur, with a win today and a little bit of luck, can clinch top four in the Premier League, solidifying their status as one of the best teams in England and qualifying for their fourth consecutive Champions League next season. All that’s standing in their way is West Ham. Ugh. The Hammers are decidedly mid-table, but they have the one thing that most of Spurs’ other opponents at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium don’t have: a fierce London rivalry. Trust me, West Ham would like nothing better than to throw a spanner, even if only a temporary one, into the works of Spurs’ run-in. Hammers fans would celebrate with the most obnoxious banter. It would be super annoying. Let’s not let that happen. COYS! Lineups Our team to take on Spurs ⚒ pic.twitter.com/SpDrpYFSzD — West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) April 27, 2019 How to Watch Time/Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 7:30 a.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. BST ELocation: Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, North London, United Kingdom TV: Sky Sports (United Kingdom), NBCSN (USA-English), TSN4 (Canada), Optus/SBS (Australia), other countries at www.livesoccertv.com Streaming: NBCSN (USA), fubo.tv (free trial) Match thread rules:<doc-sep>Michail Antonio scored the first away goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, dealing a blow to the hosts’ hopes of a top-four finish<doc-sep>Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Spurs Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice The Tottenham Hotspur team Mauricio Pochettino has selected to face West Ham United this afternoon has got supporters talking. With the Champions League semi-final first-leg against Ajax just three days away, the Argentine has opted to make four changes to the team which left it late to beat Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night. Jan Vertonghen, Victor Wanyama and Fernando Llorente are among those to drop to the bench at the new Tottenham stadium. Jjuan Foyth gets the nod at right-wing back instead of Kieran Trippier in a game that has huge importance for Spurs and their hopes of claiming a top three finish in the Premier League this season. There's also a place on the bench for Vincent Janssen. The Dutchman made his first competitive appearance of the season as a late substitute against the Seagulls earlier in the week and his manager has hinted at some more game in the final three league fixtures. "He was playing the other day because we believe he can add to the team," Pochettino told reporters on Friday. "He can score or provide the team with some qualities. "If not, he is going to be out [of the team]." Tottenham XI: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Foyth, Dier, Alli, Rose; Eriksen, Son, Lucas Most of the reaction from Palace supporters on social media has centred around Janssen not being involved from the start. Take a look at some of the best responses on Twitter... Keep up to date with the latest Tottenham Hotspur news, features and exclusives from football.london via our free WhatsApp service . Text NEWS to 07776197989 and then add the number to your phone contacts book as spurs dot london (case sensitive, with spaces) to receive daily updates and breaking news from Alasdair Gold and the team on Spurs. Your phone number won't be shared with any other members of the group. Click here for more information on the service.<doc-sep>Jamie Redknapp reacts to Tottenham defeat to West Ham Jamie Redknapp claims Tottenham lacked quality in their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League. Spurs were beaten in the league for the 12th time this season, but remain third in the table and still have two games left to nonuser they finish in the top four. Michail Antonio scored a 67th minute goal inside the box for visitors West Ham and it was the first time Spurs have lost at their new stadium. Mauricio Pochettino’s side were unable to score past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and it was an afternoon that they perhaps missed their injured star centre-forward Harry Kane. Sky Sports pundit Redknapp assessed that Spurs were well below par against West Ham and feels that star attacker Heung-Min Son wasn’t at his best. Celtic strike Premier Sports deal - is this the "additional value" we've been waiting for? Son has stepped up brilliantly during the absence of Kane, but wasn’t quite able to make the difference at the weekend. “They (Spurs) just didn’t have that quality that you want,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports’ main event channel (2:30pm, 27 April). “Son perhaps wasn’t at his best, Eriksen didn’t score a 25-yarder today like he did midweek. They never really got into their stride like we expect Spurs to, but take nothing away from West Ham. I thought West Ham were the better side today.” TBR’s View: Son, 26, is allowed one day at the office where he’s not quite on top of his game and he can’t be expected to dig his team out of trouble every game. The South Korea international has scored 20 goals across all competitions and supplied 10 assists too to highlight his importance. Spurs face Ajax on Tuesday in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final and it would be no surprise if Son makes the difference for his side. He is a dynamic attacker that is so difficult to deal with and perhaps some Spurs players had one eye on the huge European showdown with Ajax when they faced West Ham.<doc-sep>
Mark Lawrenson is backing Tottenham Hotspur to beat West Ham United to take a big step towards a wrapping up a top-four finish. Spurs made a return to winning ways in a 1-0 victory over Brighton on Tuesday night after their narrow loss to defending Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. The north London side benefited from some poor performances from their rivals after Arsenal, Chelsea FC and Manchester United all dropped points in last weekend’s fixtures. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side slumped to a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford and Arsenal suffered a surprise 3-1 loss to Wolves on Wednesday night as both clubs squandered the chance to reduce Tottenham’s lead. Tottenham are in third place in the Premier League table and have a four-point cushion over their bitter north London rivals after their timely 1-0 win against Brighton. Former Liverpool FC defender Lawrenson is backing Tottenham to ease to a 2-1 win against West Ham in the London derby on Saturday afternoon. “Tottenham left it very late against Brighton on Tuesday but that win – and other results for the teams just below them – has put them in a strong position to finish in the top four,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport. “There is still work for them to do, though. Like Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino’s side also have a Champions League semi-final to think about – against Ajax on Tuesday – but they have to pick a strong line-up here. “West Ham carry a threat but they are very inconsistent, and I think Spurs will get the three points they need.” Tottenham will take on Dutch side Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night. Spurs are looking to finish in the top four for the fourth successive season under Solskjaer. MORE: Latest Tottenham Hotspur news and views MORE: Football transfer rumours and gossip