Overview
- Millwall and West Ham meet again after a 14‑year competitive gap in what is the 100th official match between the clubs.
- London police are mounting a large security operation around The Den, where more than 400 officers are reported to be deployed to control crowds and reduce disorder.
- Bookmakers have highlighted the safety concern by offering odds that the game could be suspended for vandalism, with one provider listing 8.00 for a match suspension outcome.
- On the pitch West Ham arrive in strong form after a run of wins and a 6-0 result, while Millwall enter with irregular results and a squad hampered by injuries.
- The fixture revives a rivalry born in 1899 and marked by decades of hooliganism, including a violent 2009 clash, and its return will shape how authorities plan policing and future London derbies such as a scheduled meeting at London Stadium in February 2027.