With West Ham now heartbreakingly out of the Europa League after a valiant effort against stormers Bayer Leverkusen, can West Ham secure a top 7 finish in the Premier League and qualify for their 4th consecutive year in a European competition?
West Ham currently sit 8th in the premier league, 2 points behind Manchester United and Newcastle United who sit 7th and 6th respectively. West Ham had the chance to spend the week in 6th place with a win against Fulham, but unfortunately Marco Silva and co. had other ideas, and left East London with all 3 points after a 2-0 win, and a lacklustre performance from the Hammers. After this, West Ham faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the hope of returning to winning ways, but instead were thrashed by the Eagles in a 5-2 loss. Certainly not what the Hammers wanted in a game they would've expected a result out of.
West Ham have also had a string of topsy turvy results prior to that, with a solid win away at Wolves earned them a big 3 points, however this came after a draw against Tottenham, a narrow loss against fellow Europe chasers Newcastle, another draw against Aston Villa, and a draw against relegation favourites Burnley. You could say West Ham can count themselves lucky they are still in the fight for top 7.
West Ham have 4 games remaining. Newcastle and Manchester United have a game in hand on them, and Chelsea, who sit 9th, have 2 games in hand on the hammers, meaning West Ham need as many results as they can get.
Next, the irons face title-chasing Liverpool at the London Stadium next Saturday. It's no secret that the reds will be hunting for blood after their shock losses against Palace and Merseyside rivals Everton put a dent in their title race hopes, so West Ham will need to keep compact and keep Liverpool quiet, and hit them on the counter attack, as they enjoy doing. Hopefully the hammers can get a result, even a draw wouldn't be too sad.
After this the hammers face their West London rivals Chelsea in a huge game for the race for top 7 at Stamford Bridge. With the Blues currently only a point behind West Ham and in red hot form after their 6-0 thrashing of Everton, West Ham will need to put in an unbelievable shift, and hopefully grab a result to pull them away from those below them. In their final home game of the season, West Ham face Luton, who are desperate for points too to avoid relegation. On paper, West Ham will be favourites, but the hammers have struggled against teams below them this season, with losses to Everton and Fulham at home, and draws against Palace, Bournemouth and Burnley, all at home. Luton will for sure be confident, so West Ham just need to keep them at bay and keep applying pressure.
Lastly West Ham face champions Manchester City away on the final day. Not the most ideal of fixtures for a final day. City will be looking to secure the title, if it's not already done by then, and West Ham will obviously be begging for points to secure top 7. It will be a very tough fixture for the Hammers, but with something to prove, they will go out all guns blazing.
Don't write the Hammers off just yet.