There are just four match days remaining before the 2024/2025 season comes to a close on 25th May. While the title and relegation places may have been decided, there is still plenty to play for in the remaining weeks and every point is crucial.

The fight for European places looks like going to the wire with several teams fighting for a coveted Champions League place. This season the top five finishers in the league will be rewarded with a place at Europe’s top table.

The Premier League also has two places available in UEFA’s Europa League, plus a spot in the Europa Conference League. While much depends on who wins the FA Cup, Europa, and Conference league, it’s possible that a team as far down as tenth could qualify for Europe next year.

Unfortunately, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur fans can only dream of finishing at such dizzying heights this season. However, Tottenham do retain an outside chance of Champions League qualification should they win the Europa League.

West Ham’s season so far

The departure of David Moyes as West Ham manager at the end of last season, brought with it much hand wringing amongst fans. Many wanted their team to play more expansive attacking football, while others pointed to a European Conference League trophy.

The former Real Madrid and Wolves manager, Julen Lopetegui, took over the reins in the summer but was dismissed after losing nine of his first 20 Premier League games in charge. Following a defeat to Manchester City, the Spaniard left the Hammers with the club in 14th place in the table.

Graham Potter

The former Brighton boss Graham Potter, took over in January after being out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023. Fans believed that things had become so bad under Lopetegui that the only way was up for West Ham.

However, many fans and commentators believe the team has gone backwards during Potter’s three months in charge. The fact they now sit just above the relegation places and below where Lopetegui left them, would suggest they are correct. 

A stoppage-time equaliser by already-relegated Southampton saw West Ham draw 1-1 at home and mounted pressure on new boss Potter. The result even saw the Hammers German striker, Niclas Fullkrug, launch an on-air rant towards his team mates. 

Despite Potter defending his achievements since his arrival at the London Stadium, his dismal record at West Ham has understandably put him under the spotlight. Only Avram Grant has a worse Premier League win percentage as Hammers boss.

Tottenham’s season so far

There is no doubt that Spurs have been ravaged by injuries this season. Their best players have been missing for long periods and their form and confidence has suffered as a result.

However, many critics feel that the squad was good enough to weather the storm. They also suggest that manager Ange Postocoglu, failed to change his tactics and adapt his style of play accordingly.

Those claims were backed up by dispiriting home defeats to relegated Leicester and Ipswich. The club has since gone on to register an 18th Premier League defeat – a new club record.

Spurs are now in danger of registering their worst ever Premier League finish. That was a lowly 15th place back in 1993/94, under the stewardship of Osvaldo Ardiles

Previous meeting 

The last meeting between the two clubs was back in October. The Hammers had started the game well and took the lead through Mohammed Kudus, however, an hour into the game and the scoreline was 4-1 to Tottenham.

The game was perhaps most memorable for Kudus raising his hands to Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr, resulting in a straight red after a Var intervention. The Ghanian winger was subsequently banned for a further two games after a violent conduct charge by the Football Association.

Another fiery London derby clash?

With little to play for except local pride, the most recent and new betting sites see this affair odds on to be a draw. However, scratch below the surface and there is still plenty at stake.

With questions being asked of Hammers boss Potter, he will be desperate to end the season with a run of good results. Not only to secure his job, but to instil some confidence into his team for next season.

Players too will be looking to put themselves in the shop window, with Danny Ings, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, Lukaz Fabianski, and Kurt Zouma all be out of contract. Kudus is likely to be sold to the highest bidder and Evan Ferguson and Carlos Soler will hope to use the last few games of their loan spells to earn playing time elsewhere.

For Spurs this game comes sandwiched between a crucial two-legged Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt. With Ange seemingly headed for the exit at the end of the season and Spurs safe from relegation, it makes no sense to prioritise this game when the tantalising possibility of a lucrative Champions League place is at stake.

All of which suggests that West Ham with home advantage and no European distractions should be favourites.