Leicester City face Liverpool tonight in a game which could be crucial for the Hammers Premier League survival.
Put simply, if Leicester lose against Liverpool this evening it will mean they can’t catch West Ham. Defeat wouldn’t mean certain relegation for the Foxes because they could still finish 17th.
Forest, Everton and Leeds are all catchable for Dean Smith’s side regardless of a defeat against Liverpool.
With only two games remaining it would only be possible for Leicester to harvest six additional points putting them below West Ham on 37.
Leicester game crucial for Hammers Premier League survival
The situation with Sam Allardyce’s Leeds team is slightly more complicated, however it would require an unprecedented reversal of fortune. Leeds would need to beat West Ham 5-0 and then defeat Tottenham 1-0 to even have a chance of finishing above us.
David Moyes’s teams final EPL game of the season is against Leicester and a point would see us finish above Leeds irrespective of their results.
In short I’ll be cheering for Liverpool tonight. Their resurgence has seen them put pressure on Manchester United and Newcastle. Whilst it’s unlikely that Jurgen Klopp’s side will get a top four spot, they’re still in with a chance and will be motivated.
David Moyes is not hugely concerned given his team selection against Brentford. However it would be a relief to see Liverpool win tonight given Leicester’s goal difference.
The less distractions ahead of Thursday’s Conference League the better.
The next two weeks will be captivating with more twists and turns between Leicester, Leeds, Forest and Everton for avoiding the Premier League trapdoor. West Ham can relegate both Leicester and Leeds by beating them – and finishing a more respectable 13th, if Wolves and Bournemouth fail to win either of their remaining games. I predicted we’d finish on 43 points several weeks before losing to Crystal Palace and beating Man United….but back then I said Everton would go down, then they go and thrash Brighton! It’s a funny ol’ game as one comedic ex-pro once said.
I thought that Moyes’s decision not to play 5 at the back against Brentford was another a very poor decision especially as a point against Brentford was all we needed and he could have played 2 up top in a 5-3-2 formation. Also with so manage changes it would have been a more solid formation.