West Ham missed the chance to go seventh as they lost 2-0 at home to Everton. Watford and Wolves had lost earlier in the day but West Ham could not take advantage of this.
Instead, the Hammers dropped into the lower half of the table after being second best in every department against Everton.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team selection was strange and one player who unexpectedly started was Pablo Zabaleta.
Ryan Fredericks has been West Ham’s first-choice right-back recently but has missed the last two matches, although it is unclear whether he is injured or out-of-favour.
In Fredericks’ absence, Zabaleta started at right-back. The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and is playing for a new deal.
Up until the new year, the sense among West Ham fans almost unanimously favoured rewarding the ex-Argentina defender with a new contract.
But his performances of late have been sub-standard and some West Ham fans are starting to change their mind.
Arguing that his legs have gone, a handful of West Ham fans want to see a new right-back come in this summer to compete with Fredericks or a promotion for Ben Johnson.
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