Key Points
- Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crucial London derby on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 3pm GMT.
- Both managers, Thomas Frank of Tottenham and Nuno Espírito Santo of West Ham, face immense pressure amid poor form.
- Spurs remain winless in 2026 across three matches, including a 2-1 FA Cup third-round exit to Aston Villa on January 11, 2026.
- West Ham languish in the relegation zone, 18th place with 14 points from 21 games, seven points from safety after losses to Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
- Hammers secured a morale-boosting 2-1 FA Cup third-round extra-time win over QPR on January 10, 2026, with new signing Valentin Castellanos scoring the winner.
- Thomas Frank received public backing from the Tottenham board this week, despite fan protests planned for the match.
- Tottenham signed Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £35m, who could debut; other new faces include assistant coach John Heitinga and Football Operations Officer Rafi.
- Spurs injury crisis: Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison out; doubts over Lucas Bergvall; returns for Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie.
- Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Gallagher, Odobert, Simons, Tel, Kolo Muani.
- West Ham endure a 10-match Premier League winless streak, their longest top-flight wait for a league win since 2006-07; no clean sheets in 17 games under Nuno.
- Hammers vulnerable to set-pieces, conceding a league-worst 12 goals from corners; lost all six London derbies this season.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (North London News), January 17, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur welcome a struggling West Ham United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon for a high-stakes London derby, with both managers Thomas Frank and Nuno Espírito Santo under severe scrutiny. Spurs seek to end their winless run in 2026, while the Hammers battle relegation woes despite a recent cup triumph. The clash, kicking off at 3pm GMT, underscores the pressures mounting on north and east London rivals alike.
Why Are Both Managers Under Pressure?
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham has soured after a promising start that included a London derby win over West Ham earlier in the season. As reported by Spurs Web journalists, Frank addressed the mounting pressure ahead of this fixture, stating,
“I am very aware of how this football world works, no doubt about that. I know that we have not got enough of the results we want.”
The Dane highlighted small steps forward, noting consistent performances in recent games against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, where the team showed resilience despite setbacks. Frank received a public vote of confidence from the Spurs board this week, with sources indicating the Lewis family remains committed to giving him time, unlike past regimes under Daniel Levy.
Meanwhile, Nuno Espírito Santo took over West Ham from Graham Potter in September 2025, yet has secured only two Premier League wins, enduring a nine-match winless streak capped by a 3-0 loss to bottom side Wolves. BBC Sport reports pose the question, “Is time running out for Nuno at West Ham?”, amid a 10-match top-flight drought. Football Insider notes Nuno feels “set up to fail” due to questionable transfer moves like pursuing Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles.
What Is Tottenham’s Form in 2026?
Tottenham entered 2026 unbeaten no more, with zero wins from three outings. Their FA Cup third-round home defeat to Aston Villa on January 11 – 2-1 – eliminated them early, repeating a pattern of poor first halves and late fights without reward, as per OSEN reporter Jeong Seung-woo.
A frustrating 1-1 draw with Sunderland on January 4 extended their misery, despite Ben Davies’ first Premier League goal since 2023; boos greeted Frank post-match amid complaints over his pragmatic style. Sky Sports details Spurs’ seventh loss in 13 games, winless in 2026, with fans protesting his defensive approach and press conference comments.
Frank remains defiant, focusing on offensive improvements in training:
“Very intense, focused, working very hard on the offensive part of the game because we know the defensive in many ways looks quite good.”
The club lost 11 home league games in 2025, a record low.
How Deep Is West Ham’s Relegation Crisis?
West Ham sit third-bottom, seven points adrift after 14 points from 21 games, per The West Ham Way’s Conor Hogan following a Nottingham Forest defeat. Consecutive losses to relegation foes Wolves and Forest have made Championship demotion “a very real probability.”
Their league form is dire: 10 winless matches, four points gained, no clean sheet in 17 under Nuno – the longest top-flight win wait since 2006-07’s 11-game streak ended by Spurs. BBC Sport highlights six straight London derby losses, matching historic lows.
Set-piece frailty is glaring; they lead the league with 12 goals conceded from corners, as West Ham Zone warns this “will get West Ham relegated.” Nuno praised his side’s “fight and desire” post-QPR, but league woes persist.
What Boost Did West Ham Get from Their Cup Win?
A morale lifter came in the FA Cup third round: a 2-1 extra-time victory over Championship’s 11th-placed QPR at the London Stadium on January 10. beIN Sports reports new £26m signing Valentin “Taty” Castellanos, ex-Lazio, netted the debut winner header, ending a 10-match winless run across all competitions after 64 days.
West Ham Zone critiqued vulnerabilities exposed even against inconsistent QPR, particularly set-pieces. Yet, as BBC notes, it offered brief respite before facing Tottenham, Sunderland, and Chelsea.
Who Are Tottenham’s Key Signings and Returns?
January marquee move: Conor Gallagher joined from Atletico Madrid for £35m (initially £34.7m reported), signing until 2031 after a £33m Chelsea switch in 2024. Evening Standard’s preview states Gallagher “could come straight into the starting line-up” for injured Bentancur.
Frank hailed it a “top signing,” alongside assistant John Heitinga and Rafi in operations:
“Everything is moving forward. We just need to add a top performance and a win on Saturday.”
Returns boost: Cristian Romero post-suspension, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie.
Injuries plague Spurs: Richarlison (withdrawn vs Villa), Kudus, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Maddison sidelined; Bergvall doubtful. Predicted lineup eyes Gallagher in midfield with Palhinha.
What Challenges Do Injuries Pose for Spurs?
The injury list hampers Frank’s options, with five key players out ahead of this derby. Richarlison’s half-hour withdrawal in the Villa loss adds to woes, per Evening Standard.
Maddison and Kulusevski’s absences limit creativity, while Bentancur’s midfield void opens for Gallagher. Frank’s focus:
“Get the players out there full of confidence, brave and playing forward.”
Can West Ham Exploit Tottenham’s Home Struggles?
Spurs’ home form alarms: 15 losses in 28 domestic games, 11 league defeats in 2025. FotMob notes the head-to-head context at Hotspur Way.
West Ham, unbeaten in last six away derbies at Spurs since 2019 (three wins, three draws), per LiveScore – though this is home for Tottenham. BBC flags Hammers’ set-piece woes as exploitable.
What Does Thomas Frank Say About the Derby?
Frank dismissed external noise:
“I am happy to take that [pressure]. It is all about how we come out with energy, positive, forward… If we can do that, then we will put a top performance out there and then we will win the game.”
He stressed internal focus:
“It is a big London derby… but it is all about us.”
Sky Sports observes his defiant presser post-Gallagher arrival.
Will This Match Define Their Seasons?
This pivotal clash could shift momentum; Spurs need a win to build on board faith, West Ham a point to halt slide. Frank eyes culture strength:
“The team actually sticks together and adds more.”
Nuno’s job hinges on survival signs; fans watch if cup spirit translates. Official Spurs site confirms Gallagher debut potential, Romero availability.
