Fifth place is firmly in West Ham sights against Everton on Sunday as Wreck-It Ralf’s Man United do David Moyes a favour.
West Ham dropped down to eighth in the Premier League standings on Saturday when Wolves beat Aston Villa 2-1.
But it was not all bad news for the Hammers thanks to Wreck-It Ralf Rangnick’s below rudderless Man United.
West Ham are right in the thick of a battle between five teams for four European places.
The coveted fourth spot is rewarded with a place in the Champions League while fifth and sixth will get Europa League so long as Crystal Palace do not win the FA Cup.
If Palace fail to win the FA Cup then seventh place will more than likely be a Conference League place.
In reality any form of European qualification would be a success for West Ham. And the Hammers still have a second bite at Champions League qualification if they can win the Europa League.
With a quarter-final against Lyon looming large that is certainly not out of the question.
There was good news for West Ham last night when Man United could only draw at home with Leicester 1-1.
Fifth firmly in West Ham sights against Everton as Wreck-It Ralf’s Man United do David Moyes a favour
The Red Devils could easily have lost the game. Rangnick was brought in to help mend Man United and get them in a Champions League position.
But the draw means fifth is now firmly in West Ham sights against Everton as Wreck-It Ralf’s Man United do Moyes a favour.
West Ham know they will leapfrog both Man United and Tottenham Hotspur with a win over Everton at the London Stadium on Sunday lunchtime. And the Hammers would go three points behind Arsenal in fourth.
It will then be over to Spurs – who play against Newcastle in the Sunday evening game – before Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Let’s hope the international break has done West Ham a big favour in giving key players a much-needed rest.
West Ham should also be seeking a measure of revenge over Everton. The Toffees beat West Ham 1-0 in a smash and grab at the London Stadium during last season’s run in to dent Moyes’s Champions League hopes.
The Toffees need every point they can get to stave off relegation. And former Hammer Frank Lampard will be determined to get one over his old club.
West Ham must step up to the plate tomorrow if they want to make a real statement of intent in the race for the European spots.
Particularly as several of the teams in that race with them are playing each other between now and the end of the season.
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