West Ham been freely tipped by many to mount a serious top six challenge this season – the top four will need an awful lot more.

The Carabao Cup upset may have come as something of a wake up call and pointed to some deficiencies in the squad but the respected Rafa Benitez reckons we are on the road to the Champions League.

The Spaniard has swapped the Premier League and Newcastle for China but is clearly keeping a careful eye on what’s happening in the UK.

And he appears to believe that the Hammers have the potential required to possibly land themselves in the top four this season.

Benitez always holds views worth listening to and he believes there could be a changing of the guard at the top in a season which is already showing signs of unexpected change.

However, he refuses to write off our oldest enemy Spurs, whom he believes can recover from a poor start to the season.

Asked about in a Q&A with The Athletic whether  the north Londoners can finish in the top four, Benitez said: “I think so. It will maybe more interesting this year, but still I can see that they have the potential to do well.

“We talk about ‘six teams’, but for me Leicester, West Ham, Wolves and Everton can progress and challenge.