Tottenham
Tottenham players celebrate a goal against Chelsea in their English Premier League game, September 28Reuters

A team that has conceded the fewest goals in the English Premier League so far this season, against a goal-shy side that haven't scored in four of their six games. A foregone conclusion the result, then, it should be.

Tottenham host a West Ham side struggling to find any kind of form in front of goal, while Spurs have been purring all season and look primed for a title tilt.

Depending on results, elsewhere, Tottenham could find themselves on top of the league going into the international break with a win in the London Derby at White Hart Lane on Sunday and Andre Villas-Boas after seeing his side breeze past Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League, will expect nothing less.

"If we manage to win this game, we (finish) with 16 out of 21 points (ahead of the international break) having played Arsenal and Chelsea," Villas-Boas said. "In such an intense derby against West Ham, that would be perfect.

"The motivation for the fixture is there, the ambition from the players is there and it's about us trying to get this result before we stop for the international break again."

West Ham have failed to win their last five games, after opening the season with a 2-0 win over Cardiff, and Sam Allardyce knows his side need to find goals from somewhere, with the only saving grace the fact that they have conceded on five so far in six matches.

"We had 19 attempts away from home in a Barclays Premier League game last weekend at Hull and we dominated the game but failed to score a goal," Allardyce said. "We are creating the chances to score, but all the players who have been getting these chances away from home have failed to put them in the net and that's why we are suffering the consequences now.

"We have had three games away from home with a magnificent defensive record -- one goal conceded which was a penalty which was wrongfully given. That is something to really build on but at the other end, unfortunately we couldn't marry it up with a goal or two as we should have done. Six or seven points away from home would have been a fairer total than only two."

Team News: Villas-Boas will have to do without Younes Kaboul, who picked up a knock in the win over Anzhi, while Danny Rose, Etienne Capoue and Aaron Lennon all remain ruled out.

Andy Carroll's continued absence through injury has undoubtedly hurt West Ham, but Allardyce will welcome back some creativity to the side in the mould of Joe Cole. George McCartney could also feature for the Hammers against Spurs.

Key men: Tottenham: Christian Eriksen has been brilliant for Spurs right from the off and the Dane will be the central creative force for the North London club yet again.

West Ham: Stewart Downing returned from injury in the 1-0 loss to Hull last weekend, and the winger will be vital to unlocking that stubborn Spurs defence.

Where to watch

The match is scheduled for an 8.30 p.m. (IST) kickoff with live telecast on Star Sports 2. You can also catch the match live online by clicking the official link HERE. 

Expected lineups: Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Paulinho; Dembele; Townsend, Eriksen, Sigurdsson; Soldado.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Rat; Diame, Noble, Nolan; Downing, Maiga, Jarvis.

Prediction: 2-0 to Spurs