Pundit Paul Merson claims West Ham United are far from alone in the battle for Premier League survival and believes Newcastle United could still drop.
Read: David Moyes confirms major boost for West Ham after 21-month wait
West Ham are 16th ahead of the season restart in two weeks. But David Moyes’s side are only outside the bottom three on goal difference.
Newcastle meanwhile are eight points better off up in 13th.
The Hammers and Magpies have nine games – packed into six weeks – to secure safety. West Ham will likely need at least three wins, if not four.
More to relegation shake-up than meets the eye says Merson
It is widely accepted that West Ham are one of six teams are fighting to avoid the three relegation spots this season.
Newcastle and Southampton have been considered safe after reaching 35 and 34 points respectively.
Norwich are effectively seven points adrift of safety given their league-worst goal difference and are considered down already.
As a result many believe the reality West Ham face is being one of five teams trying to avoid filling the other two relegation spots.
But Merson told The Daily Star at the weekend that West Ham and co are far from alone.
The pundit said as many as 11 teams are still in danger because of the condensed nature and unique circumstances of the run-in.
Pundit says West Ham far from alone and warns Newcastle
And he has particular concern for Steve Bruce’s Newcastle side.
“Whoever hits the ground running when the season restarts is going to have a massive advantage when the season restarts,” Merson told The Daily Star.
“There will be so many games coming thick and fast that your whole situation could flip in a week. I think there’s more than six teams involved in the relegation battle now. I think anyone with less than 40 points is still at risk.
“That means teams like Newcastle, Southampton, Everton, Crystal Palace and Burnley can’t relax. One or two wins and most of them should be okay. But lose your first two games back and it could be very hard to recover. The pressure will be on.
“Before, if you had a bad game, you’d have a week to put it right and prepare for the next one. Now it’s just going to be play, rest, play. No time to work on things.
’11 teams still in it, clubs must hit the ground running’
“If you don’t hit the ground running you could be in the bottom three very quickly. That’s an advantage for the teams who are chasing. It’s easier to make up ground quickly. I fear for Newcastle the most because they might struggle without 50,000 unbelievable fans behind them at home.
“Those fans keep your concentration levels high. They help you. With no crowd, you lose focus. And Newcastle might feel that more than anyone else.”
West Ham and manager David Moyes were also hoping home advantage would help see them through.
Five of West Ham’s remaining nine games are at the London Stadium.
And it all starts with the visit of Wolves on June 20th, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Read: Coveted manager who wanted West Ham job is at loggerheads with bosses, Hammers must pounce
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