Tottenham vs West Ham: Michail Antonio goal gives Hammers deserved away victory
Relive the Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham Hotspur suffered their first defeat at their new stadium after Michail Antonio gave West Ham United a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday.
Tottenham made a number of changes to their side as they prepared for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax on Tuesday but Mauricio Pochettino's gamble backfired against a resolute West Ham side.
Spurs dominated the first half and could have been ahead after 11 minutes when Son Heung-min was played through by Dele Alli but his shot from the left was too close to the near post of Lukasz Fabianski who got down to save.
The Pole also did well to deny Christian Eriksen who shot from close range after good work down the right from Lucas Moura.
Tottenham were made to pay for those missed chances as West Ham took the lead after halftime. A lofted cross from Marko Arnautovic in the 67th minute found Antonio who lashed it in past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Relive the match above.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Tottenham and West Ham, brought to you from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hello hello.
It is the race that seemingly no-one wants to win. Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are all throwing points into the wind as the season draws to a close, the race for the two Champions League spots still rather open even at this very late stage.
But it is in Spurs' own hands, a nervy midweek win over Brighton three more points towards qualification for Europe's top tier. They can afford a draw, now, but Mauricio Pochettino will be seeking the perfect close to the season to secure that top four berth.
West Ham, no doubt roared on by a fanbase for which this game is of utmost importance, are the visitors to Tottenham's wonderful new home today.
Team News - Tottenham
Tottenham revert to a five-at-the-back after utilising a four against Brighton, Juan Foyth back in at right wing-back after impressing against Manchester City last weekend.
Eric Dier starts in place of Victor Wanyama in midfield, while Jan Vertonghen and Kieran Trippier also drop out.
Team News - West Ham
West Ham reform the defensive pairing of Issa Diop and Fabian Balbeuna, so impressive earlier in the season before the latter's untimely injury, while Ryan Fredericks also starts in the back four.
Tottenham have a perfect record at their new home, but West Ham have been in such a situation before.
The Hammers were, of course, the first team to win at the Emirates (and, incidentally, the last team to win at Highbury), Bobby Zamora the scorer on that occasion, 12 years ago this month.
A cautionary tale for Mauricio Pochettino's men, perhaps.
So stretched thin are Tottenham's resources that they had few options to rest players for today with their Champions League semi-final first leg with Ajax to come next week. Victor Wanyama's untested legs have had to shoulder considerable load in the last couple of weeks with Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko's injuries, and he is perhaps dropped to the bench with Tuesday in mind.
West Ham seem set up to attack, as they have been for most of the season with no paucity with regards to attacking resource. Jack Wilshere is back on the bench, too, further strengthening that unit. If it's another tight one, that impact could be crucial.
No Harry Kane today for Tottenham, but, and not to get ahead of ourselves at all, if they do manage to progress, Mauricio Pochettino's gut is telling him the talismanic striker may make the Champions League final:
It will be interesting to see exactly how Tottenham assemble today. I'm expecting a five, but there are a few mutterings that Danny Rose may be deployed in a midfield role in which he has made a cameo on a few occasions recently.
Up top, Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son's partnership is in fine fettle. Operating as split forwards they have managed to stretch defences and force centre-halves to make decisions. With two changes in West Ham's back four and two full-backs with defensive vulnerabilities, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping they can get at the visitors.
Seventh now seems beyond West Ham and a top-half finish also looks increasingly so, with Leicester securing their spot five points ahead of Manuel Pellegrini's side in a controversial late draw between the pair last weekend.
Their campaign has been hindered by the recent form of Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic, both going off the boil, rather, at the same time and stalling the momentum of a season that has been far too inconsistent.
Michail Antonio has, however, surged into the sort of form that thrust him to the fringes of the England team. With Robert Snodgrass also included, there's plenty of attacking potency at Pellegrini's disposal, and if Tottenham do have half-an-eye on the Champions League they have both the pace and the guile required to capitalise.
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