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During the summer, West Ham appointed Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini as their new boss and backed the Chilean in the transfer market, allowing him to make nine signings and spend close to £100m.

After losing their first four Premier League games of the season though, questions were being asked over whether the players brought in were good enough, if it was too many new faces and if Pellegrini was the right man to lead them.

The Hammers were certainly given a tough task with their fixture list at the start of the season though, and of the four games they have played against last season's top six so far, they have won one, drawn one and lost two.

Despite this, things now look as though they are starting to come together for Pellegrini's new-look side, and that win against a top six club came at home to Manchester United. In the 3-1 win, the Hammers took full advantage of the turmoil that the club were in at the time, and they could do the same against an injury-hit Tottenham side this Saturday if they are able to stick to these three tactical points.

Have Declan Rice man-marking Harry Kane

Ever since the summer and his exploits with England in the World Cup, Harry Kane hasn't quite looked like the lethal striker that popped up everywhere and netted 41 goals in 48 appearances throughout all competitions last season.

In terms of goalscoring, the 25-year-old's numbers are still impressive, with six goals in his first 10 games of the current campaign, but the England striker looks a yard off the pace and easier to defend against.

With all the other injuries to key Spurs players, West Ham stopping Kane from firing will be crucial to their game plan.

Pellegrini then should ask Declan Rice to almost man-mark Kane, but by sitting just in front of him to stop the service in to Tottenham's front-man.

Kane has been dropping far deeper for Spurs so far this season and 19-year-old Rice has been proving himself as one of the top young defensive midfielders - if he can do a job on England's captain on Saturday it will not only help West Ham but won't do his chances of getting a call-up from Gareth Southgate any harm either.

Stop Harry Winks from playing

Harry Winks stats v Cardiff

With Dele Alli looking likely to be ruled out through injury, the creative onus from midfield for Tottenham will rest on 22-year-old England midfielder Harry Winks. Last time out against Cardiff, Winks recorded some impressive stats with 93% pass accuracy and an incredible 105 touches of the ball.

However, his game generally revolves around keeping the play ticking over rather than producing a moment of magic, and if the Hammers can stop him controlling the game from deep then they should be able to overrun Mauricio Pochettino's side. The likely midfield three of Pedro Obiang, Mark Noble and Rice will need to be hard-working and disciplined but this is surely where the game will be won or lost.

Pin the Spurs full-backs

West Ham's front three

Whether Spurs are playing with a back three or back four, their full-backs are always one of the biggest attacking threats. With Jan Vertonghen out injured it's likely to be four at the back on Saturday, and it'll be the job of West Ham's new wingers Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko to pin the Spurs men back in their own half.

Anderson and Yarmolenko now have three goals and three assists between them so far this season and alongside Marko Arnautovic they could cause havoc just as they did against United.

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