The next Premier London Derbies (PLDs) match in the Premier League (PL) is Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United on Sunday 20 March 2022. The Lilywhites are currently 7th (played 28 with 48 points) and the Hammers 6th (48 from 29), separated by goal difference (+9 v +12). Above them are Manchester United (5th with 50 from 29) and Arsenal (4th with 51 from 27), and below Wolves (8th with 46 from 29). No other PL Club has more than 36 points. Things are looking good for the Gunners, who usually finish strongly despite losing mid-week at home to Liverpool, to claim that 4th UEFA Champions League place.
Over the last 5 seasons form just favours Spurs in this fixture with 2 wins v 1 win for the Hammers, and 2 draws including that crazy 3-3 draw last season. The Clubs finished 6th and 7th last time but Spurs squandered their chances in the knockout stage of the Europa Conference League although they cited Covid-19. How ironic that had Spurs gone through rather than Vitesse Arnhem they might have played Jose Mourinho’s A S Roma in the round of 16. A S Roma won with a late goal from “Tre punti” Tammy Abrahams. The Hammers played, very difficult to beat, Sevilla in the Europa League round of 16 and won 2-1 on aggregate with an extra time winning goal fittingly by Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko.
It is F A Cup Quarter Finals weekend and 2 PLDs clubs are still involved. Crystal Palace have a home tie against Everton under multiple Cups winner Frank Lampard. That of course was with Chelsea who are away to EFL Championship side Middlesborough. Chelsea FC apparently requested that the tie be played behind locked doors with no crowds. Does the advantage of playing infront of 20,000 passionate success-starved home fans outweigh the benefits of £1.5 billion investment and £28 million a month wage bill, however dirty the money?
Until next time, “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.