Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City are in a "difficult position" with injuries after their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday.

Timo Werner and Pape Sarr did the damage in the first half of the fourth-round tie, though Matheus Nunes reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

That came after Manuel Akanji was forced to withdraw from the lineup through a warm-up injury, while Savinho left the pitch on a stretcher after the interval.

Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne are the other first-team options out injured, and Guardiola cut a concerned figure at the full-time whistle.

"We are in a difficult position with the amount of players," the Man City boss told Sky Sports. "It is what it is. It is normal. The limit of players is there.

"We will see on Thursday [for Savinho's injury]. Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker [have] no chance to play the next games."

City hold a one-point lead over Liverpool at the Premier League summit before the champions visit Bournemouth on Saturday.

Guardiola was, at least, encouraged by the performances of his youngsters, with James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly both starting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"Exceptional. The young players did well," he added. "They are so fast, and I am really pleased.

"If you play a game that quickly, they attack quicker. Of course, in the second half, there were transitions. They could have finished the game.

Guardiola opted to leave Erling Haaland on the bench throughout, suggesting it was not worth risking City's key talisman.

"The plan was not to play today," Guardiola confirmed on Haaland. "We have not had much recovery, and it was a waste of energy."

Ange Postecoglou hailed Tottenham's EFL Cup fourth-round victory over Manchester City as his side continue to evolve under his stewardship.

Timo Werner and Pape Sarr were both on target in the first half on Wednesday, with Matheus Nunes reducing the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Spurs held on against a much-rotated City side, who suffered their first defeat of the season after a 2-1 reverse in north London.

Tottenham disappointed in a 1-0 loss away to Crystal Palace in the Premier League before this win, though Postecoglou was delighted with his side's response.

"It's a cup tie played against a formidable opponent, I thought we did well for the most part," he told Sky Sports.

"We didn't allow too many clear-cut chances. We could have put the game away, but City are always going to push you.

"It's an ever-evolving process, this team is growing all the time, but when you have growth you are going to stumble.

"As disappointed as we were on Sunday I had great belief we could come out today and put up a great show.

"Both our goals were quality goals, they have to be as City don't give easy chances."

Spurs had been eliminated in their last three EFL Cup ties against fellow Premier League sides, going out to Chelsea in 2021-22, Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 and Fulham in 2023-24.

Werner eased any nerves after just five minutes, however, with his close-range finish easing the mounting pressure on the former Chelsea forward.

"Great for Timo. He is going through a tough time, but the build-up play was great," Postecoglou added.

"It should lift him, we are supporting him, but it is down to him and his approach to things. He was unlucky to not get one or two more, if attacking players don't score they feel anxiety a bit."

Postecoglou hammered his side after their collapse at the start of October in a 3-2 defeat to Brighton, and similar criticism followed after their defeat to Palace last time out.

The Australian coach is remaining level-headed, though.

"I don't believe in big moments or catastrophic moments - we are the same team that we were three days ago. Hopefully, we have more good days ahead of us," he concluded.

Tottenham will host Manchester United for a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals as the last-eight ties were confirmed on Wednesday.

Ange Postecoglou's side inflicted Manchester City's first defeat of the 2024-25 campaign with a 2-1 victory at home in the fourth round.

Timo Werner and Pape Sarr were both on target for Spurs, whose next test in the competition will come against United, who smashed Leicester City 5-2 to reach the next stage.

That victory marked Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in interim charge after Erik ten Hag's dismissal on Monday, though Sporting's Ruben Amorim is expected to soon be appointed at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag ended a six-year trophy drought for United when winning the EFL Cup in 2023, leaving the possibility for Amorim to follow suit should he arrive and guide his side past Tottenham.

Arsenal will also meet London rivals Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in another quarter-final tie.

Mikel Arteta's side eased past Preston North End in the fourth round, while Palace stunned Aston Villa with a 2-1 away win after Daichi Kamada's second-half winner.

Staying in London, Brentford sneaked past Sheffield Wednesday on penalties and will visit Newcastle United, who battled to a 2-0 home win over Chelsea to reach the last eight.

Defending champions Liverpool edged to a 3-2 win over Brighton, earning a quarter-final trip to Southampton after Russel Martin's side snatched a late 3-2 win over Stoke City on Tuesday.

All quarter-final clashes are set to be played across the week of December 17.

EFL Cup quarter-final draw in full:

Tottenham vs Manchester United

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Newcastle United vs Brentford

Southampton vs Liverpool

Timo Werner scored his first goal in seven months to help Tottenham eliminate Manchester City from the EFL Cup with a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's last-16 tie.

Both teams were left to count the cost of muscle injuries come full-time of an entertaining game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Micky van de Ven hobbled off in tears and Savinho was also distressed as he went off on a stretcher.

Werner also sustained a knock that forced him off, but that was long after emphatically curling away from Stefan Ortega inside five minutes after being teed up by Dejan Kulusevski down the Spurs right.

Pape Matar Sarr tucked in a first-time finish of his own from outside the box to double the hosts' advantage 25 minutes later - an effort Ortega perhaps could have done better to keep out - but City finally woke up before half-time.

Savinho picked out Matheus Nunes to side-volley in at the back post and that set the tone for a gripping second period - one in which Erling Haaland watched from the substitutes' bench despite his side chasing a goal.

Ortega made three saves to keep City in the tie, with Richarlison failing to convert from a glorious position, and those misses so nearly proved costly in the closing stages.

Yves Bissouma brilliantly denied Nico O'Reilly on the line with quick reflexes, however, to ensure Ange Postecoglou remains on course for silverware in his second season at Spurs, while inflicting a first loss of the campaign on eight-time EFL Cup winners City.

Data Debrief: City can't handle Kulu

Tottenham had suffered elimination from their previous three EFL Cup ties against fellow Premier League opposition - against Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Fulham in the past three seasons - but they showed great resolve to overcome City.

Werner and Sarr scored the goals that sent Spurs through, both of those assisted by Kulusevski in a different manner. The Sweden international created four chances in total, which was double the number of any other home player.

Man City may have scored for the first time in four away games in the EFL Cup, but this marks their third successive away loss in the competition for the first time since August 1997.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has said that he was unsurprised by Erik ten Hag's sacking at Manchester United given the amount of attention on both him and the club.

Postecoglou has faced criticism himself this season, with Tottenham currently eighth in the Premier League following a defeat to previously winless Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Similarly, Ten Hag oversaw a 2-1 defeat away to West Ham on Sunday that put United 14th in the table, just seven points above the relegation zone. It was to be his last in charge.

But Postecoglou was sympathetic towards the Dutchman, though, explaining that the pressure put on managers is sometimes hard to live up to.

"I'm not really shocked. Disappointing as it was, it was almost inevitable with the scrutiny he had," said Postecoglou in a press conference.

"If you look at Erik, he was there for two and a bit years. He won a trophy in each year, they finished third in his first year.

"If he was here with that record would he have lost his job? I don’t know.

"Would he be under the same scrutiny? I don’t know because everyone tells me all I have to do is win a trophy, but I have got a feeling it would be the same because, just the nature of the world today."

Oliver Glasner asserted that Crystal Palace’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham represented “the benchmark” for his side going forward.

Palace secured their first three points of the season after a torrid run of eight games without a win at the start of the campaign.

Jean-Philippe Mateta secured the winner in the 31st minute and Palace could have had more with Eberechi Eze seeing a goal ruled out for offside and being denied a potential penalty shout in the second-half.

While the pressure had been mounting on Glasner after a run of three straight defeats, victory could ease the scrutiny.

"It helps all of us if we play in that way. We are a very good team and it's very difficult to beat us. Getting this response, this game helps us,” Glasner told BBC Sport.

We have to show it again in three days against Villa. This is the benchmark. You can score and concede, this is football.”

Palace managed 14 shots throughout the game, with six of those on target. It was more than their traditionally attacking opponents could muster as they put just three shots on target and caused few problems for the hosts.

While Glasner’s side were unable to capitalise further on their dominance, he was delighted with the performance.

"Congratulations to team, to the players for how they played today with passion and courage. They showed it on the pitch against a good Tottenham team,” he added.

"The players took it as a chance and every single phase we played great and moved the ball. A very good performance today.

"I mentioned before the game that if we were convinced changing the formation was the solution then we would do it immediately. Tottenham tried everything late on. The players did it amazing and that is why we won this game."

Eberechi Eze looked back to his best, as he notched the second-highest expected goals (xG) total on his team (0.16), only beaten by goalscorer Mateta (0.24).

He contributed the assist with a skilful flick to direct Daniel Munoz’s cross into the path of Mateta. He also took the most shots (four) and had the most touches in the box (seven) of both sides.

"I think we see the old Eze all season. He's been a bit unlucky. We know he is technically unbelievable,” Glasner said.

“He scored a great goal but was offside. I think it's a penalty but I didn't see it on TV. If he has a free shot then he shoots so I don't know why he would lie down on the grass.”

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario admitted his side lacked fight following their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The north London side conceded the eventual winner in the 31st minute as Jean-Philippe Mateta fired past Vicario at the back post.

It was a lacklustre showing upfront from the visitors, too, as they managed only three shots on target throughout the match, resulting in an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.72.

Vicario was candid about the lack of hunger from his side, as their total of 11 shots in the game marked their lowest total in a single match in the Premier League this season.

"They fight and I think we lacked that today. We are disappointed because we have to fight. We play good football but maybe sometimes we lack the desire to fight. They show a real desire to fight for something,” he told Sky Sports.

"I just want to focus on us and what we didn't do as a team. I think we lacked a bit of energy and to be better than them. We have to take this personally and it has to hurt us a lot. Football gives us an opportunity again and we have to be ready for the cup."

Tottenham were without captain Son Heung-Min, who is also their joint-top scorer this season (three) with a total of five goal contributions.

"He is the captain but we have a big squad and we have to deal with that. We have to be able to win games without Son. We lacked in something, not in football, but attitude and fight," added Vicario on his captain’s absence.

The result represented only the second win for Palace across their last 19 Premier League games against Tottenham (D2 L15), though both victories in that time have come at Selhurst Park while keeping a clean sheet.

Yet Ange Postecoglou’s side now have two defeats in their last three games and have failed to win any of their four away London derby matches in the Premier League in 2024 (D1 L3).

"It was one of those games with a lot of stoppages and battles and they ended up winning a lot of them and coming out on top. There was a lot of disruption and it was hard to get any fluency. They did better than us,” Postecoglou told BBC Match of the Day.

"It turned into a game they were thriving on and we should have dealt with it better. It was a poor goal to concede, it had nothing to do with playing out from the back. That can happen.

"I'd be very surprised if they were happy right now. Why would I be happy? If I'm unhappy then they'll be unhappy. If you're suggesting that our fans weren't happy with today then that's a fair assessment."

Jean-Philippe Mateta made the difference as Crystal Palace beat Tottenham 1-0 to claim their first Premier League win of the season.

Coming off the back of three straight defeats, the pressure was on Oliver Glasner, and his team delivered the goods for their fans at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Their winner came in the 31st minute when Mateta latched onto Eberechi Eze’s clever flick and drilled in from close range.

Brennan Johnson had the best chance for the visitors when his shot struck the post before seeing the rebound cleared off the line by Trevor Chalobah.

But Palace looked most likely to get the game’s second goal, and Eze saw one ruled out for offside while Adam Wharton was thwarted by Guglielmo Vicario.

The Eagles were not made to pay for failing to add a second, however, as they claimed a morale-boosting result that takes them up to 17th, while Tottenham are eighth after two defeats from their last three league matches.

Data debrief: Spurs out of ideas in attack

Tottenham attempted just 11 shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Premier League this season.

Of those 11 shots, they managed just three on target as the visitors managed an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.72.

It sees Crystal Palace have beat them for the first time in the Premier League since September 2021, a run of 5 games without a win.

Oliver Glasner believes Crystal Palace's problems are mental, rather than tactical, as the pressure builds on the Eagles boss ahead of Sunday's London derby versus Tottenham.

Palace are one of four teams yet to win a Premier League match this season – a new record through eight games of a single campaign.

That is despite them winning six of their final seven games of 2023-24, leading some to tip them as surprise candidates for European qualification in pre-season.

Reports have suggested Glasner's position could be under threat if results do not improve before the November international break, but the Austrian is simply focused on giving his players the support they need.

"At the moment we don't score goals, we should score more. Then it's always tough, one mistake and we get punished," Glasner said. 

"I think we've all had better times in football, better times in sports. The players tried everything to win the game, but at the moment, we have to be honest, it's not enough.

"Everybody's frustrated, everybody's disappointed. It's our responsibility, especially mine now, to get chins up, the head up of every single player, to support them.

"At the moment I don't think it's a tactical problem, it's a mentality problem. It's a lack of confidence, we can see it, and so this is what we have to change."

Tottenham, meanwhile, have won three of their last four league games after fighting back to beat West Ham 4-1 in another London derby last week.

Ange Postecoglou withdrew James Maddison at half-time in that game, allowing Dejan Kulusevski to thrive in a number 10 role, and he thinks there is more to come from the Swede.

"Deki's been great all year. He obviously feels more comfortable in that area, he's much more involved in the game, which I think is key with Deki," Postecoglou said.

"He wants to be involved and playing on the wing, sometimes he could get a bit frustrated in himself that he wasn't involved.

"I think we can get more goals out of him, more assists. All season, he's been great. I think he's maturing, as well. He's been captain of his country, which gives him even more self-belief. I think there's more to come."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Crystal Palace – Eddie Nketiah

Since scoring a hat-trick against Sheffield United in October 2023 for Arsenal, Palace striker Nketiah has played 804 minutes in the Premier League without finding the net.

He is currently on a run of 30 shots without scoring in the competition, and if the Eagles are to ease the growing pressure on boss Glasner, they may need him to find his shooting boots.

Tottenham – James Maddison

Spurs midfielder Maddison could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match. 

Maddison ranks first in the competition for passes played into the opposition penalty area this season (72), while he has five assists in his last 11 games.

MATCH PREDICTION – TOTTENHAM WIN

Tottenham have won 19 of their 30 Premier League games against Palace (seven draws, four losses), their highest win rate against any fellow London side in the competition's history (63%).

They will be confident of another victory here. Postecoglou's side have won three of their last four Premier League matches (one defeat), as many as they had in their previous 11 games (three wins, one draw, seven losses).

One could argue their performances have warranted more points this season, too. Spurs are second only to Manchester City for shots (145), shots on target (55), touches in the opposition box (355) and successful opposition half passes (2,069) in the Premier League. 

Tottenham also rank top for passes played into the opponent penalty area (306) and expected goals (16.95 xG).

Palace, meanwhile, won five of their first seven home leagues matches under Glasner (one draw, one defeat), scoring 22 goals, but have since gone four without victory at Selhurst Park (two draws, two defeats), failing to net in three of those games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Crystal Palace – 25.9%

Tottenham – 50.1%

Draw – 24%

James Maddison compared Tottenham team-mate Mikey Moore to Neymar, following the 17-year-old's "fearless" display during the victory over AZ.

The academy graduate made only his second senior start for Spurs, who edged out their Eredivisie opponents 1-0 to maintain their perfect start in this season's Europa League.

Moore played 88 minutes and produced an impressive performance, with only Maddison registering more touches in the opposition box (12 to six), passes in the final third (27 to 25) and dribbles (five to four) among Spurs players.

The winger also went close to breaking the deadlock with his fifth-minute header going wide, but his display was enough for Maddison to make a notable comparison.

"I thought we had Neymar on the left wing!" the England midfielder told TNT Sports. "He is fearless, [he has] that young, fearless mentality.

"He's a brilliant lad, he has bags of ability. I will, hopefully, help him with wise words, but he has all the ability, and well done to him."

Richarlison settled the contest with his 53rd-minute penalty, but only after winning a battle of wills with Maddison, as both players briefly discussed who would take the spot kick.

Maddison, who skippered a much-changed Tottenham, eventually presented his team-mate with the ball, with the Brazilian marking his first start of the season by getting on the scoresheet. 

"Initially, we both wanted to take it," Maddison explained. "I'm a senior player, I was captain today, I was going to take it, but I thought Richarlison has come back from an injury. It's difficult for a striker - a first goal gives confidence.

"It was a split-second decision to let him take it. [It's] leadership. Even if I wasn't the captain, I still like to think I would make a decision that is best for the team. Hopefully, that gives him a big boost."

Richarlison's penalty extended Tottenham's 100% start to their Europa League campaign, as they edged out 10-man AZ 1-0.

The Brazilian marked his first start of the season with the only goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as his second-half spot kick made it three wins from three for the hosts in this competition.

Ange Postecoglou's side created the better opportunities in the first half. Mikey Moore headed wide from a Timo Werner cross, while the German shot straight at AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.

At the other end, Fraser Forster produced a superb reflex save to push away Alexandre Penetra's header.

Spurs broke through within eight minutes of the restart, though, Richarlison calmly converting from 12 yards after Maxim Dekker tripped Lucas Bergvall in the box.

Rodrigo Bentancur made a timely block to prevent a potentially swift equaliser from Ernest Poku, but that was as close as it came for the visitors, who had David Moller Wolfe sent off for a second bookable offence when he felled Brennan Johnson five minutes from time.

Data Debrief: More home comforts for Spurs

Tottenham maintained their hugely impressive record on home soil in the Europa League. They have now won all seven such matches, while scoring 19 goals without reply.

As for AZ, their miserable travels to England continue. They have now lost all nine of their away matches against English opponents in all competitions.

Any hopes they had of ending that dismal streak were extinguished when Moller Wolfe was dismissed for the second match running.

Heung-min Son will miss Tottenham's Europa League clash with AZ, head coach Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

The Spurs skipper returned from a hamstring injury during their victory over West Ham at the weekend, but was absent from training on Wednesday.

Postecoglou said Son would not be risked for the visit of the Eredivisie side on Thursday, with Tottenham aiming to make it three wins from three, having opened their campaign with victories over Qarabag and Ferencvaros.

Although, Richarlison is available and could make his first start of the season, after returning from injury as a substitute against West Ham. 

"Sonny was a bit sore after the weekend," Postecoglou told reporters during his pre-match press conference. "He was never going to be involved tomorrow. [We will] leave him out of tomorrow, and see how he is from there.

"Richy got through this weekend really well, [he is into] almost the second week of training now. [He is] ready to go in terms of being available.

"We've started the competition really well so far, [with] different challenges in both games. We've exposed some of our young players to European football, a positive growth from that.

"From our perspective - here at home - it's a good opportunity to continue our form."

Ange Postecoglou hailed an "outstanding" second-half display from Tottenham in their win over West Ham.

In stark contrast to the capitulation at Brighton before the international break, Spurs took the game away from the Hammers after the interval on Saturday.

Goals from Yves Bissouma and Son Heung-min, combined with Alphonse Areola's own goal, saw Spurs to a 4-1 win in the early kick-off, with Dejan Kulusevski having cancelled out Mohammed Kudus' opener in the first half.

Kudus became the sixth different West Ham player to both score and get sent off in the same Premier League game when he was sent off for violent conduct late on as Spurs capitalised on a dominant second-half display in which they had 10 shots and got five on target.

"We had to fight hard in the first half," Postecoglou told BBC Sport.

"Going a goal down wasn't ideal but we clawed our way back into it, and it is not easy. West Ham are a big physical side and they have got some speed as well.

"Second half we were outstanding. We upped the tempo and played some quality football, defended when we needed to and got our finishing right.

"I think we had some chances where we could have scored more but if we keep creating the goals will come. We want to be that sort of side that creates lots of chances.

"It was not about changing things. We knew there had been a bit of an arm wrestle and we always back ourselves to keep going at the intensity we always do and upping it and taking the game to West Ham. We knew that putting them under pressure here at home, we would eventually get there.

"It was a bad 45 minutes not a bad 90 minutes [v Brighton] so we were not that far away. In that game we stopped the things we had to do in the second half but today it was a 95-minute performance."

James Maddison set up Kulusevski's equaliser, though was taken off at half-time.

In the process, Maddison became just the second Tottenham player on record (since 2003-04) to create at least five chances in a Premier League game while playing 45 minutes or fewer, after Darren Anderton v Fulham in August 2003 (five chances created in 32 minutes).

On the substitution, Postecoglou said: "We needed more running power in midfield and Pape [Sarr] has lots of that, bags of energy and running.

"He really helped us to get control of the midfield and that gave us a good platform to go forward. Our general play improved from there and we looked dangerous going forward."

A rampant second-half performance saw Tottenham ease to a 4-1 win over London rivals West Ham on Saturday, easing the pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou.

Mohammed Kudus put West Ham ahead early on, firing home at the back post following good work from Jarrod Bowen on the Hammers' right, only for Dejan Kulusevski to fire in off the post to level in the 36th minute. 

Under-fire head coach Postecoglou surprisingly withdrew James Maddison at half-time despite the England man assisting the equaliser, but that change paid off as Spurs swiftly pulled clear.

Yves Bissouma swept home in the 52nd minute, then Son Heung-min's shot deflected off both Jean-Clair Todibo and Alphonse Areola before creeping in for an own goal.

Son then made it three goals in an eight-minute span to kill the contest, racing onto a pass from Maddison's replacement Pape Sarr before finishing at the near post.

To add to West Ham's woes, Kudus was sent off for violent conduct late on, with the VAR intervening to recommend an on-field review after he raised his hands to Micky van de Ven's face.

Julen Lopetegui's visitors drop to 14th in the Premier League table with eight points, while Tottenham go sixth with 13 ahead of Saturday's other fixtures.

Data Debrief: Kulusevski takes centre-stage

It was certainly a surprise to see Maddison withdrawn at half-time, after he drove over halfway to assist Kulusevski's equaliser.

He became just the second Tottenham player on record (since 2003-04) to create five or more chances in a Premier League game while playing 45 minutes or fewer, after Darren Anderton versus Fulham in August 2003 (five chances created in 32 minutes).

However, Postecoglou's switch certainly paid off as Kulusevski shone in a number 10 role.

His clever reverse pass allowed Son in to force the own goal, while the Swede also led all players on the pitch for dribbles (six), duels contested (15) and won (eight) and possession regains (eight) in an all-action display.

Ange Postecoglou is ready to “explode” when his Tottenham players return from the international break, using his side as “therapy” after their loss to Brighton last time out.

Spurs were on the end of a dismal defeat at the Amex Stadium against the Seagulls, squandering a two-goal lead to halt their five-match winning streak in all competitions.

Postecoglou faced criticism for the manner in which his side capitulated on the south coast, but wanted to make his feelings known ahead of their London derby with West Ham that will kick off the latest round of Premier League fixtures this weekend.

“You never know with the international [break] whether it will be good or bad, maybe for the players it was good, but I don’t like sitting on a loss. You want to get it out of your system and move on to the next challenge,” Postecoglou told Optus Sport.

“There can be a tendency to overanalyse, but it wasn’t a good one. That first half we played against Brighton was unbelievable – the best we have played all year – but I just didn’t like the second half and what we looked like.

“You know what international football, the game finishes and everyone goes, so the dressing room after the game is not the time to analyse. I have been sitting on it for 10 days now and I am ready to explode once they get back in the building and they will be my therapy.”

West Ham, meanwhile, come into the contest off the back of a first win in five games against Ipswich, relieving the pressure on new boss Julen Lopetegui.

Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta were all on target against the Tractor Boys and are aiming to produce back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since March 2023.

Lopetegui showered praise on Bowen, who missed out in England’s Nations League squad for their October fixtures. The Spaniard is expecting his star man to continue his form, with the aim of impressing incoming Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.

“The best way to show your disappointment as a player is this,” Lopetegui said.

“When you don’t play in one lineup, when you don’t go away with England, it’s this. I think he knows that. He is always ready to help the team.

“He is always ready to work hard, to play well and that’s why he is a very good player.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – James Maddison

Including crosses, no player has played more passes into the opposition box in the Premier League this season than Tottenham’s Maddison (64).

The 27-year-old’s next goal will be his 50th in the competition, with the midfielder netting in two of his last three league games.

West Ham – Jarrod Bowen

Bowen has been involved in 34 shots this season (15 shots, 19 chances created), more than any other West Ham player.

Indeed, last time out against Ipswich, he became the first Hammers player to have five or more shots and create five or more chances in a single Premier League match since Michail Antonio against Arsenal in March 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN

This will be the eighth time Tottenham and West Ham have faced each other in the first Premier League matchday back after an international break, with Spurs so far unbeaten in the previous seven (W4 D3).

Tottenham have also only won more Premier League games against Everton (31) and Manchester City (28) than they have vs West Ham (26).

But Postecoglou’s men have lost four of their last six Premier League London derbies (W1 D1), as many as they had in their previous 16 (W9 D3). They did beat Brentford 3-1 in their last such match, however.

In contrast, the Hammers are unbeaten in their last three Premier League London derbies on the road (W1 D2), with those accounting for all three of their away games so far this season. They last had a longer such run without defeat between January and December 1999 (six).

David Moyes’ West Ham side came from behind to win this exact fixture 2-1 last season, but they have not won consecutive league visits to Spurs since doing so in April and November 1966.

They will have to be wary of the threat of Brennan Johnson, who has scored in each of his last six games in all competitions for Tottenham. His six goals in run are more than he’d netted in his first 38 appearances for the club (five).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Tottenham – 56.6%

Draw – 22.4%

West Ham – 20.9%