With three defeats from three in all competitions, West Ham had gotten off to an awful start to the season, but with pressure mounting on manager Graham Potter, the Hammers pulled off an excellent performance and result last time out, beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 away from home.
The result will briefly relieve the pressure on Potter, and the Englishman is no doubt hoping that result will be a turning point in his West Ham career, but fans are still largely unconvinced by him on the whole. Performances have been largely drab since he took over midway through last season, but Potter showed initiative last time out and abandoned the back three system he's been using since he took over in favour of a traditional back four, and that move quickly paid dividends.
If Potter can help guide West Ham to a win over Tottenham, the wind will really be in his sails heading towards the next international break.
Tottenham, by contrast, started the season excellently with a 3-0 win over Burnley and a 2-0 win over Manchester City, but Thomas Frank was quickly brought back down to Earth as his team were outclassed by Bournemouth on home soil in a 0-1 defeat prior to the international break.
The game was much more one-sided than the scoreline suggests, with Tottenham managing only five shots (with one on target), while the Cherries recorded 20 shots (with five on target). Spurs must now show a positive reaction to that result and performance, and they come into this one with a point to prove.
Fans will be hoping to see the first of new singings Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, both of whom will be in the matchday squad. The former is not expected to start, but whether or not Simons can force an immediate entry into the starting XI remains to be seen.
Simons' arrival in particular is one that excites the fan base, given he's regarded as one of the best young players in the world. The Dutch international provided ten goals and six assists in the Bundesliga last season, so he'll fancy his chances of affecting this game if given the opportunity.