Hammers News

Lord Alan Sugar is saddened by the fact one of West Ham or Tottenham Hotspur will be relegated as he makes a big confession ahead of the Hammers’ clash with Arsenal.

Tottenham took back control of the Premier League relegation battle from West Ham last weekend – and arch rivals Arsenal will have a big say in how it turns out.

After the Hammers were well beaten 3-0 at Brentford, Spurs pulled off a shock 2-1 win at a distracted and much-changed Aston Villa.

It means Tottenham Hotspur now have survival in their own hands heading into the last three games while West Ham must hope Roberto De Zerbi’s side slip up.

Alan Sugar sad to see West Ham and Spurs in relegation battle

To complicate matters, Arsenal could hold the key to who stays up between Spurs and the Hammers.

Historically West Ham and the Gunners have not had the fiercest of rivalries.

How would a draw with Arsenal make you feel about our survival chances? 🤔

West Ham would still be below Spurs on goal difference… 😬

But that has intensified in recent years following Declan Rice’s defection to the Emirates and West Ham putting a spanner in the works for Arsenal’s title hopes for three consecutive seasons.

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If the Hammers can do the same again by beating Arsenal when they come to the London Stadium on Sunday, it will lift Nuno Espirito Santo’s side out of the bottom three and back above Tottenham by two points.

That would then pile pressure on Spurs in their clash with Leeds.

Arsenal and Spurs fans have been conflicted in their emotions ahead of the Gunners’ trip to east London.

The Gunners know they need to beat West Ham to take a giant step towards the Premier League title but appreciate that will go a long way to keeping Tottenham up.

Meanwhile Spurs need Arsenal to beat West Ham but know that will likely put them on course to lift the biggest prize of all.

Sugar wants West Ham to give Arsenal a hard time to stop title win – even though it could hurt his beloved Spurs

Now one particularly famous Spurs fan has admitted he too is seriously conflicted.

Lord Alan Sugar has made a big West Ham confession ahead of the Arsenal clash amid the relegation battle with Spurs.

Imaging you’re in Nuno’s shoes; Who are you bringing in to face Arsenal? 👞

Former Tottenham owner Lord Sugar has surprised many by admitting he is saddened that one of two ‘iconic’ clubs in West Ham or Spurs could be relegated.

And the thought of Arsenal winning the league even has The Apprentice star half hoping West Ham can beat the Gunners, even if it hurts Spurs.

“West Ham or Spurs going down?” Lord Sugar said on X.

“Personally I think it is so sad that (either of these) great iconic clubs (could) leave the Premier League.

“Would you have expected Man City down three at half-time by Everton.

“On the same token if the West Ham boys have got any balls they will come out and give Arsenal a hard time.

“Bitter sweet for me (if) West Ham do Arsenal and Spurs (will be) in trouble again. On the other hand Arsenal may not win the Premier League.”

After Arsenal, West Ham go to Newcastle before welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day.

Spurs are away at Chelsea then home to Everton while Arsenal have Burnley and Palace after West Ham.

Unai Emery has been accused of making a mockery of the integrity of the Premier League with his team selection in Aston Villa’s defeat to Tottenham, but it is a bit rich coming from West Ham.

Fans of not only West Ham but clubs across the country felt Aston Villa’s seven changes for the 2-1 loss at home to Spurs brought the world’s best league into disrepute.

Tottenham Hotspur were obviously delighted to see Unai Emery rest three of Aston Villa’s four first choice defenders and main goalscorer Ollie Watkins among others at Villa Park.

West Ham not so much after they lost 3-0 at Brentford.

West Ham don’t have a leg to stand on in row over Villa team selection vs Spurs

The results mean the Premier League survival battle has swung violently in Tottenham’s favour with three games to go.

Tottenham Hotspur jumped back above the Hammers who have slipped into the bottom three ahead of the visit of title-chasing Arsenal while Spurs welcome Leeds to north London next.

How do you FEEL about West Ham wanting to keep Nuno next season? 😳

Emery’s team selection has been a huge topic of debate ever since.

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Many Hammers supporters have been venting their spleens on the matter.

Emery responded to West Ham anger during a feisty exchange after the game.

He pointed out Villa have lost three games in a row with different players in each game.

Not all West Ham fans have been blaming the Spaniard for handing Spurs the advantage in the race for survival.

But those who are do not have a leg to stand on after what David Moyes did three years ago.

Some Hammers fans have short memories after what Moyes did

Of course emotions are heightened in the heat of a relegation battle. Especially as it is one that pits West Ham head-to-head with bitter rivals Tottenham.

It seems some West Ham fans have incredibly short memories, though.

Nuno still feels positive about West Ham’s chances – but do YOU?

Ultimately Emery has the right to use his squad, and pick whatever side, as he sees fit – just as Moyes did in a game against Leicester when the Hammers were preparing for their Europa Conference League final in 2023.

West Ham’s first European final for 47 years was clearly the priority when Moyes made six changes to his side for a 2-1 defeat to Leicester on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

Not just any players either.

First choice Hammers stars Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, Kurt Zouma, Emerson, Manuel Lanzini and Alphonse Areola were among those rested.

Meanwhile the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Said Benrahama and Michail Antonio started but were withdrawn early in the game.

The victory saw the Foxes relegated after Everton also won against Bournemouth.

West Ham fans didn’t care a jot about Moyes’ team selection for that game against Leicester. In fact the same supporters slamming Emery now may well have been advocating Moyes’ approach given what was at stake for the Hammers.

Moyes’ changes had the desired effect too as West Ham went on to win their first major trophy for 43 years.

Aston Villa, without a major trophy since 1980 themselves, will be hoping they can go on and do the same by turning around their 1-0 deficit to Forest in their Europa League semi-final.

Former West Ham United assistant Edin Terzic has a new job, shortly after being linked with a return to the Premier League via Chelsea and relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Six months ago, Slaven Bilic admitted that he had held talks with the Hammers regarding a stunning return to the London Stadium. His old assistant was linked with another stint in English football himself.

Chelsea reportedly considered Terzic following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. A post-Thomas Frank Tottenham Hotspur showed an interest too, according to The Athletic.

How do you FEEL about West Ham wanting to keep Nuno next season? 😳

Edin Terzic was unwilling to take a job mid-season – much less one staring down the barrel of the Championship – so the chance offered to him by Athletic Bilbao was always likely to hold more appeal.

It has now been officially announced that Terzic will take over Athletic at the end of the current La Liga campaign.

Thus, confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in Spanish football.

One-time West Ham United assistant Edin Terzic makes La Liga move

It had become clear weeks ago that Athletic president Jon Uriarte had selected Terzic as his number one choice to replace Ernesto Valverde.

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The former Borussia Dortmund coach, who led his beloved BVB to the Champions League final and the brink of Bundesliga glory without getting over the line in either competition, has signed a two-year deal at San Mames until the summer of 2028.

What a sorry old mess 😪 How have we let it slip AGAIN?!

Athletic are currently eighth in Spain’s top flight. Despite an underwhelming campaign – they qualified for the Champions League last season – a place in Europe is still on the cards with four matchdays remaining.

Terzic spent two years at West Ham alongside Bilic from 2015 to 2017. Interestingly, despite his vast experience in youth football and as an assistant coach, Dortmund remains the only senior outfit the 43-year-old has taken full control of.

Until now, of course.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s negative tactics cost West Ham dear in 3-0 hammering at Brentford, handing control back to rivals Spurs in the battle for survival.

One selection decision in particular from Nuno Espirito Santo ended up proving most costly of all as he started woeful flop Pablo yet again ahead of goal hero Callum Wilson.

If West Ham are to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the battle to stay up they will need to score goals.

Yet Nuno left Wilson on the bench yet again, despite admitting he deserves more starts after his late winner against Everton last weekend.

Negative Nuno costs West Ham with Pablo favouritism

That result ensured the Hammers remained out of the relegation zone and kept Spurs in it despite their victory at Wolves.

As a result West Ham have had survival in their own hands with a two-point cushion on Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

On a scale of 1-10, how impressed have you been with Pablo Felipe? 👀

You'll never sing that 😂🎵

But not anymore after a hugely underwhelming performance at both ends as Nuno’s negative setup ultimately cost the Hammers against a Brentford side who had not won in eight and looked there for the taking.

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Nuno was slammed for a similarly negative approach when West Ham passed up the chance to beat an under-strength and distracted Palace a couple of weeks ago.

It was more of the same in their latest London derby as the Hammers could and should have been a goal down after just 30 seconds.

Shambolic defending meant the Bees should have had a greater lead than 1-0 at the break.

West Ham had their own chances but Pablo showed he is nowhere near the level required for the Premier League when he was afforded a clear run at goal only to produce a pathetic effort which was easily saved.

Captain Jarrod Bowen was awful again and looks a shadow of the Hammers hero he has been for the majority of the last six years.

Nuno hands control back to Spurs as West Ham falter when it matters most

Few players covered themselves in glory and West Ham have now handed the initiative to Tottenham Hotspur big time.

Instead of piling the pressure on Spurs ahead of a tough trip to face Aston Villa, De Zerbi’s side now know a win would lift them out of the relegation zone and above West Ham with three games to go.

What is your MESSAGE Man United as they target Malick Diouf? 🇸🇳

The Hammers have Arsenal next while Spurs play Leeds.

It was Nuno’s decision to persists with Pablo which angered West Ham fans most and proved most costly.

It is fair to say West Ham would have had themselves a couple of first half goals with Wilson starting such were the chances that fell to them.

Nuno will argue his side were unlucky after hitting the post twice and the bar while having two penalty calls turned down.

But the reality is West Ham were not good enough at both ends of the pitch.

Worst of the lot was Pablo who toiled yet again with his hard work simply not sufficient enough to start up front for a Premier League club.

When El Hadji Malick Diouf brainlessly slid in on Dango Ouattara to concede a needless penalty it summed West Ham’s performance up.

West Ham did not look like scoring in a month of Sundays and when it mattered most the team and manager lost their bottle.

Now a huge carrot is dangling for Tottenham at Villa Park and if they win West Ham will be fearing for their Premier League lives.

And while he has done a good job to turn things around since January, Nuno will only have himself to blame.

West Ham player ratings vs Brentford:

Hermansen, 3/10: Nervous all game and could have cost West Ham more goals. Pathetic attempt at saving Brentford’s third which resembled a pass-back. Terrible distribution too.

Walker-Peters, 5/10: Poor at both ends and insufferably weak on the ball and in the tackle. Subbed off.

Mavropanos, 6.5/10: Scored an unfortunate own goal and saw a goal ruled out for a marginal offside, a day to forget for Konstantinos Mavropanos after being nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award. Was solid enough otherwise.

Disasi, 6.5/10: Not his best game but the two centre-backs were not really the issue for West Ham.

Diouf, 4/10: Some poor crosses when in good positions. What he was thinking sliding in to give away the penalty which killed the game is anyone’s guess.

Soucek, 5/10: It is games like this that see some fans use Tomas Soucek as a scapegoat. Worked hard but was found wanting.

Fernandes, 5/10: West Ham’s best player this season had his worst game for some time when it mattered most. Was not all his own doing, though, as Nuno’s tactics left him isolated and under pressure in the middle of the park.

Bowen, 3/10: So often the Hammers hero, Bowen has been unrecognisable at times over the last few months. Another dreadful performance by his high standards. Subbed off.

Summerville, 6/10: The only one who looked like making something happen. But he too has lost his sharpness since his injury lay-off. Subbed off.

Castellanos, 4/10: Missed four really good chances which really cost the team. Not up to Premier League standards and looks well over-priced at £27m. Subbed off.

Pablo, 2/10: Absolutely woeful and bereft of any quality whatsoever. Looks like a non-league striker plonked into a Premier League team. Works his socks of granted but that simply won’t cut it if West Ham want to stay up. Should not have started.

West Ham have been given a huge survival boost by Nottingham Forest by lighting a fire under Aston Villa ahead of their clash with Spurs.

Every game is massive as the Premier League relegation battle enters the final four games looking like a straight shootout between the Hammers and Tottenham Hotspur.

Nottingham Forest may have a bit of work to do too although Leeds essentially made sure of safety by beating Burnley on Friday night.

West Ham have survival in their hands, knowing they just have to match Tottenham’s results to stay up.

Forest do West Ham huge favour in survival battle with Spurs

In fact, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can even afford one less result than their bitter rivals as they hold a two point advantage.

There is no hiding the fact this weekend’s games feel like they could go a long way to deciding who survives.

If Nuno keeps us up, where does he sit among West Ham’s BEST managers?

West Ham are away at Brentford, who have not won for eight games, while injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur are on the road to Champions League chasing Aston Villa.

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If the Hammers beat Brentford they will widen the gap on Spurs to five points, piling even more pressure on Roberto De Zerbi’s side at Villa Park.

As exclusively revealed by Hammers News, West Ham’s owners have voiced fears Villa will be ‘distracted’ against Tottenham given it comes in the middle of their two-legged Europa League semi-final against Forest.

But West Ham have been given survival boost as Forest light a fire under Aston Villa ahead of Spurs.

Hammers News looked back at Villa’s Premier League results post Europe this season and it made for very encouraging reading for Nuno and makes the game even more daunting for De Zerbi.

Villa have won nine of their 12 league games after Europa League matches, drawing one and losing the other two.

Villa have massive Champions League carrot vs Tottenham

West Ham and Spurs were both interested spectators when Unai Emery’s side lost 1-0 to Forest in the first leg at the City Ground on Thursday night.

And things could not have worked out better for the Hammers in terms of Villa’s motivation for their clash with Tottenham.

Spot anything interesting in West Ham’s pre-Brentford training session? ⚒️ 🆚 🐝

Pablo scores a lovely goal 4 minutes in…

Winning the Europa League is rewarded with a place in the Champions League.

With Villa trailing Forest, suddenly their surest bet of making it back to Europe’s top table is through the Premier League.

Fifth place will be a Champions League spot again this season and that is great news for West Ham – but terrible for Tottenham.

Because Villa can cement Champions League football with three games to spare if they win against Spurs.

If Brighton fail to win away at Newcastle and Villa beat Tottenham on Sunday they will move on to 61 points, 11 clear of the Seagulls, thus sealing their return to the Champions League.

What better incentive, made all the more crucial given Villa’s Europa League hopes are now hanging in the balance.

Better still for West Ham – and not so much Spurs – is that the feisty nature of the defeat to Forest has lit a fire in the belly of Emery who has delivered impassioned press conferences since.

One more result in the league should see Forest safe, so inspiring Villa to beat Spurs only helps their own survival hopes too.

Nuno Espirito Santo knows that the battle for Premier League survival – with West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest in the mix – could go down to the final matchday.

Technically, the Hammers could relegate London rivals Spurs before they even take to the field against Leeds on May 24th.

Permutations aside, Nuno Espirito Santo is readying his West Ham United players for a fight until the very last whistle.

How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔

West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬

Two divisions lower and 250 miles north west, Blackpool can look forward to the luxury of a final day free of drama.

Thanks largely to the goalscoring exploits of one-time Upton Park prospect Ashley Fletcher, League One football will be returning to Bloomfield Road in 2026/27.

Ashley Fletcher fires Blackpool to survival as West Ham United battle against the drop

Manchester United academy graduate Fletcher hit 20 goals for the first time in his journeyman career this season.

OK, he failed to add to a career-best tally of 21 during a run of five wins in six matches which officially secured Blackpool’s status in the third-tier, but manager Ian Evatt accepts that relegation would have been an inevitability without his exploits in the final third.

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“I have to give huge credit to Fletch, who has scored 21 goals in really difficult circumstances with where we were and how we were performing,” Evatt told the Blackpool Gazette after a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient which leaves last season’s beaten play-off finalists wobbling on the edge of relegation heading into the final day.

“He’s carried the team a lot with his goals.”

Blackpool were stuck in 20th as recently as April 10th. Now, they are breathing in rarified air in vertigo-inducing heights of 14th; eight places above the drop zone.

Hammers aiming for 43 points to ward off Tottenham Hotspur

Of course, West Ham could still finish above Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, should they win three of their final four matches starting with Brentford away on Saturday.

The feeling at the London Stadium is that, a quarter of a century after even the brilliance of Paolo di Canio, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe failed to save their skin, West Ham may need up to 43 points to absolutely guarantee survival.

Forty-three points, of course, is one more than the infamous ‘too good to go down’ side of 2002/03 managed.

Where will West Ham v Brentford be WON and LOST?

Some key battles all over the pitch… ⚒️ 🆚 🐝

“It was a must-win [against Everton] and to do it in the last minute was brilliant but nerve-wracking, especially with Spurs scoring late at Wolves,” the top senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News after Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time winner last weekend.

“But we hope Aston Villa are not distracted by Europe [a semi-final Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest sandwiches that Tottenham clash].

“One club might need a record number of points to stay up.”

Ashley Fletcher failed to score in 20 West Ham appearances before his £6 million move to Middlesbrough in 2017. The late-blooming, now-30-year-old frontman endured largely underwhelming spells at Sunderland, Watford, New York Red Bulls, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic before rocking up at Blackpool two years ago.

With 32 goals in two seasons, Fletcher has brought the sun back to the Blackpool beach.

Nothing will be decided at the bottom of the Premier League table this weekend; not for West Ham United nor Tottenham Hotspur.

But with only three matchdays remaining following the Hammers’ trip to Brentford, a victory at the home of London neighbour – coupled with a Spurs loss on Sunday – will put salvation within Nuno Espirito Santo’s grasp.

If Monday’s Old Trafford clash proved anything, it is that Brentford are hardly ‘on the beach’. Keith Andrews has put spades and sandcastles at the back of Bees minds. Despite failing to win any of their last six top-flight matches, European qualification is still very much on the cards.

Tell us your Brentford demands and score predictions!

Brentford were also the better side for long spells against Michael Carrick’s Champions League-bound Red Devils.

Yet, if you offered West Ham United the choice of a trip to Brentford or a visit to Villa Park, one suspects very few would set about researching the Birmingham branches of Premier Inn.

West Ham United can their Premier League fate in their own hands

Speaking to Hammers News shortly after Callum Wilson scored a stoppage-time winner against Everton, a spokesman for the board indicated that Aston Villa vs Tottenham this weekend is viewed as a key moment in the relegation battle.

If West Ham beat Brentford and Spurs lose away at a team with no shortage of motivation – a win will almost guarantee Champions League football in 2026/27 – then the job will be scarily close to completion.

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A West Ham win will at the Gtech Community Stadium would take Nuno’s team on to 39 points.

If Villa beat Tottenham – as they really should, considering the massive gulf in quality between both sides – the Hammers will go into the final three matchdays five points ahead of 17th.

Villa have won each of their last four meetings with the reigning Europa League champions. A good omen, certainly.

Tottenham Hotspur face tricky trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea

If Tottenham lose, the maximum amount of points they could get is 43. A win for West Ham at Brentford, coupled with a Spurs defeat, would mean Nuno needs only five points from a possible nine in order to post a tally Tottenham could not overtake.

How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔

West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬

Spurs, lest we forget, still have to face bitter rivals Chelsea. How they would love to seal Spurs’ fate.

If both Villa and Chelsea defeat Roberto de Zerbi’s side, West Ham would need only two points from the final nine available.

Should all go to plan, the Hammers’ survival could be all-but sealed away to Newcastle on May 17th; on the penultimate weekend.

Permutations, hey.

“It was a must-win [against Everton] and to do it in the last minute was brilliant but nerve-wracking, especially with Spurs scoring late at Wolves,” the top senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.

“But we hope Aston Villa are not distracted by Europe [a semi-final Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest sandwiches that Tottenham clash].

“One club might need a record number of points to stay up.”

West Ham, of course, made history in the worst possible manner when they suffered relegation with 42 points in 2002/03. The Hammers had Joe Cole, David James and Paolo di Canio in their ranks at the time, while posting a tally which remains the highest of any relegated team in Premier League history.

Wouldn’t it be so very ‘Spursy’ if a similar tally consigned Tottenham to the drop – while saving West Ham’s skin – a quarter-of-a-century later.

Whatever the future holds for Andre Dike, arguably the most exciting talent in West Ham United’s current Under-18 ranks, this season has seen the winger prove himself as a bit of a derby specialist.

The five-cap England youth international side has faced five London neighbours in the U18 Premier League since mid-September.

In matches against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, he has recorded a highly-impressive seven goal contributions.

Who will be the next breakout star from our academy?

Ezra Mayers and Lewis Orford are developing very nicely… 🌟

In fact, Andre Dike reached 20 goal contributions for 2025/26 when setting up Chuk Obi during West Ham United’s 2-1 victory over Spurs on Tuesday lunchtime at Hotspur Way.

Another scalp added to the collection.

Andre Dike helps West Ham United beat Arsenal and Tottenham

There are shades of Jarrod Bowen in 17-year-old Dike. Many of his 16 goals for the reserves this term have come about in a very familiar manner; cutting inside from the right onto his left boot and curling the ball past a despairing goalkeeper.

In particular, Dike’s December stunner against Crystal Palace was extremely Bowen-esque.

But as the Under-18s took on Arsenal and Spurs in the space of four days – they would see off both, by the way – Dike put the Hammers ahead with a rare headed finish during a thrilling win at the Gunners’ young Guns on Saturday.

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While Callum Wilson popped up to break Everton hearts, Dike scored a stoppage-time winner of his own some 30 miles north west at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. A composed penalty the seventh goal in a 4-3 victory.

Tottenham then found themselves in the teenager’s crosshairs and, like Arsenal, again found no answer to his threat from the right-hand flank.

That assist to Obi en route to a 2-1 victory takes Dike’s personal tally up to 16 goals and four assists in 28 matches across the U18s and the Under-21s.

If you could STEAL one Brentford player, who are you having?

We have an idea who you might pick… ⚒️ 🆚 🐝

Dike will play a big part with the Hammers’ Under-21s next season

An assistant coach to Greg Lincoln at Under-21 level, Zavon Hines is confident that Dike will have more chances to make his mark in the second-string if he maintains his rapid rate progress in the age group just below.

“The idea is always to expose our Under-18s to the demands of the higher age groups,” Hines told the club’s official website in February, after Dike scored his first-ever Premier League 2 goal in a 1-1 draw with Leicester.

“Andre has been one of our top players in the Under-18s and we want to give him more opportunities at Under-21s level. It was good for him to start and make an impact by scoring.

“He deserves more opportunities.”

He will get them, too. Dike has surely outgrown the Under-18 pool, ready to wade into choppier waters.

Jamie Carragher has delivered a new take on the relegation battle that will delight West Ham but is undoubtedly tough to hear for Spurs.

It’s the final countdown as West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur embark on the final four games of what is turning out to be an epic fight for Premier League survival.

And Jamie Carragher believes he knows how it all ends.

Tottenham got their first win of 2026 when they narrowly beat Wolves at the weekend.

West Ham boost as Carragher says Spurs now in ‘worse position’

The enormity of that victory for Spurs became clear when West Ham scored a crucial 92nd minute winner against Everton to keep themselves out of the relegation zone at Tottenham’s expense.

Many pundits, journalists and fans believe Roberto De Zerbi’s side will get the lift-off needed to survive after getting the monkey off their backs with the scrappy win over Wolves.

How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔

West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬

Some believe West Ham have the tougher fixtures of the bitter rivals too.

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But Sky Sports pundit Carragher has issued a brutal new Tottenham survival verdict that will be music to West Ham ears.

Because Carragher says Spurs are now in a ‘worse position’ despite winning their first game for four months.

The Liverpool legend pointed to wins for West Ham and Forest, two big injuries to key Spurs players, the fact Tottenham have got their most winnable game out of the way with no change to the table and that he simply can’t see them scoring goals as reasons why he feels Tottenham are doomed to the drop.

Spurs saw Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke added to their lengthy injury list against Wolves as the win came at a heavy cost.

Simons is out for the rest of the season while Solanke is unlikely to feature again either with four weeks to go.

Carragher thinks West Ham have goal factor injury-hit Spurs are missing

And Carragher thinks that will be the death knell for Spurs because West Ham have players like Jarrod Bowen to get them goals.

“I think it’s going to be really tough (for Spurs to get the points needed to survive),” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

Do you believe NOW in the ‘Great Escape’? 🤯

Watch the highlights here! 👇

“And I think the reason being is Spurs and the whole support will just be thinking ‘we’ve won a game of football’ – they haven’t won a game of football this year, you can’t quite comprehend that, but they’ve won a game, so they got the three points.

“But their other rivals, West Ham and Nottingham Forest both won. So when you actually look at it and you think of the injuries they got at the weekend, so even though they won a game, they’re actually in a worse position than they were last weekend.

“Because they’ve got the easiest game they had on paper, Wolves away, out of the way, so that’s gone. Now West Ham have got difficult fixtures no doubt about that but when I look at the players Forest have got and West Ham, both playing a front four, I think of Morgan Gibbs-White, I think of Jarrod Bowen.

“Spurs haven’t got a player in the attack who can even come close to either of those players. That’s what worries me for Spurs and yes they have tough fixtures as do West Ham.

“But when I look at the Wolves game and think of the injuries, who is going to score for them (Spurs), who is going to create something?

“I look at Villa away and Chelsea away – tough games no matter how you are playing or what team you’ve got at Spurs – I can’t see them scoring a goal. But if they do score a goal, maybe one and then you’ve got to keep a clean sheet.

“I just find it difficult to make a case for them in those two games and that then puts huge pressure on those home games against Leeds and Everton.”

West Ham have the chance to pile pressure on Tottenham when they go to Brentford on Saturday.

The Bees have won once in eight games and a Hammers victory would put them five points clear of Spurs, who have a tough trip to Aston Villa a day later.

Relegation run-in final four fixtures:

West Ham’s board have voiced concerns that Aston Villa will be ‘distracted’ when they face relegation rivals Spurs this weekend – but are they right to be worried?

The stakes have arguably never been higher for West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur than they are right now, so every game – and every permutation – is absolutely huge.

Injuries, suspensions, form, momentum, what day you play in relation to one another and of course the opposition – and what they have to play for – all comes into the equation as the Hammers battle bitter rivals Spurs to stay in the Premier League.

West Ham’s survival hopes have been boosted by a double Spurs injury blow in their narrow win over Wolves.

Are West Ham board right to worry about Spurs facing ‘distracted’ Villa?

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side maintained a two-point gap to Tottenham with their late 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

It is Brentford up next for the Irons on Saturday while Spurs are away at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa 24 hours later.

How will the Premier League table look when it’s all said and done? 🤔

West Ham are in a precarious position with 4 games to go! 😬

That gives West Ham the perfect opportunity to pile pressure on Spurs by widening the gap to five points with a victory.

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Tottenham will be worried as Brentford have only won once in their last seven games.

On paper Aston Villa away looks a much tougher assignment for Roberto De Zerbi’s Spurs.

But in a Hammers News exclusive, West Ham’s owners voiced fears Villa will be ‘distracted’ against Tottenham.

The Hammers hierarchy are concerned Unai Emery’s side will be impacted by their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Villa go to Forest on Thursday night before taking on Tottenham at Villa Park less than 72 hours later.

Depending on the outcome of the first leg, it could well dictate Emery’s team selection and priorities against Tottenham with the home leg on the horizon the following Thursday.

Astonishing Villa record will delight West Ham and worry Spurs

Many managers feel the demands of Thursday-Sunday European and Premier League football is among the most difficult to juggle.

Teams playing in Europe on Thursdays often struggle in the league in the following fixture.

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Let’s look at the facts, though, as we explore whether the West Ham board right to worry about Spurs facing a ‘distracted’ Aston Villa?

The short answer is ‘no’ because Villa’s astonishing record will delight West Ham and have Tottenham terrified.

Here we look at all of Villa’s league results following games in Europe this season.

After playing Bologna at home in Europa League game week one in September, Villa comfortably beat Fulham 3-1 at Villa Park three days later.

Europa League group game week two saw Villa win 2-0 away at Feyenoord and 72 hours later they beat Burnley at home 2-1.

Game week three saw Aston Villa lose away to Go Ahead Eagles. Encouragingly for West Ham, though, Emery’s men bounced back to beat Man City 1-0 in the Premier League that weekend.

After beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 at home in game week four, Villa then smashed Bournemouth 4-0 at home three days on.

Villa’s superb league form post European games continued in game week five as they beat Young Boys 2-1 before seeing off Wolves 1-0 at the weekend.

West Ham were the next to suffer the effects of Aston Villa’s remarkable form after Europa League games.

European group game week six saw Emery’s side beat Basel away 2-1 before a 3-2 victory over the Hammers less than 72 hours later.

After a break over winter, Villa’s remarkable powers of recovery and squad balance continued in game week seven as they beat Fenerbahce 1-0 away then came back to the UK and won 2-0 on the road at Newcastle.

The only blot on the copybook in the group stage came after the final game week eight. Aston Villa beat RB Salzburg 3-2 at home before losing 1-0 at Villa Park to 10-man Brentford.

Onto the knockouts and West Ham’s concerns had slightly more foundation.

Villa won 1-0 away at Lille in the last 16 first leg but lost to 3-1 to Man United three days later.

West Ham would suffer again, though, when Emery’s side got their record back on track as they won the second leg against Lille 2-0 before beating the Hammers by the same scoreline in the league a few days on.

After a 3-1 away win at Bologna in the quarter-final first leg, Villa drew 1-1 with Forest next.

Tottenham’s next opponents then followed up a 4-0 thrashing of the Italians in the second leg by scoring four again, in a 4-3 win at home against Sunderland.

It is fair to say the fears of West Ham’s owners that Villa will be distracted due to Europe when playing Spurs are very much unfounded based on this season’s results.

Because Villa have lost just two of their 12 Premier League games following Europa League matches, winning nine and drawing one.

A remarkable record that will give the Hammers encouragement and strike fear into Tottenham Hotspur ahead of another crunch game with four to play.