West Ham’s narrow win over Swansea should now see the team safe from any danger of relegation. The 1-0 win was their first victory in eight games and moves them eight points clear of the bottom three. Swansea remain in the final relegation place due to this defeat, which is their fourth in five games. They are still two points from safety due to other results.
Chelsea won their 24th game this season to reinstate the seven point gap at the top of the table. It had been reduced to four points earlier in the day and so anything but a win could have seen an uneasy end to the season. The 3-1 win ends a good run for their opponents Bournemouth who had been on a five game unbeaten streak before this. The south coast side are seven points clear of relegation and with only six games remaining. They should be safe now.
Tottenham had narrowed the gap at the top courtesy of their 4-0 win at home to Watford in the early kick off. That was their sixth straight win in the league and continues their good run of form. Spurs are the only team looking like they can mount a challenge to Chelsea, but it may be too late this season. Watford had won two games on the bounce but remain in the top half of the table despite this result.
Liverpool came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 away and secured their fourth win in six games. It was a win which kept them 3rd in the league, six points ahead of 5th place. That result was Stoke’s fourth straight defeat and they drop to 13th in the league. They are still yet to register a win against any of the top nine sides in the league.
Manchester City returned to winning ways following their 3-1 victory at home to Hull. City were on a four game winless run before Hull’s visit. They keep pace with their rivals for a top four finish and have a four point gap between themselves and 5th ahead of Arsenal’s game tonight. Hull continue their poor away form for the season and have still won only once outside of their own stadium this campaign. They are still two points clear of Swansea but with only three home games remaining they may need to improve away.
Manchester United move back to 5th but Arsenal could over take them again on goal difference if they win tonight. United’s 3-0 win away at Sunderland did some good to their goal difference however and they still have games in hand over the sides above. Sunderland did not lose any more ground on the teams above but it is now one game less in which they can save themselves. Although they still have a mathematical chance of survival, clawing back 10 points more than Hull in the remaining seven games seems increasingly unlikely.
Everton ended Leicester City’s winning run with at 4-2 home win. It was Everton’s first win in three but their seventh straight home win. They remain 7th in the table and are now level with Arsenal, but have played three more games. Leicester stay in 11th, still one point from a top half finish following their first defeat in six games.
Southampton condemned West Brom their fourth defeat in six games with their 1-0 win at the Hawthorns. They now have a good chance to leap West Brom in the table and are currently 9th, four points behind but having played two games less. West Brom are still in 8th place, but are now 10 points behind Everton.
Burnley missed the chance to win their first away game of the season with a 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough. With only three away trips remaining it looks likely that they will be winless away from Turf Moor for the whole season. With the side sitting in 12th however, one point away from a top half finish, it shouldn’t bother their fans too much.
Crystal Palace host Arsenal tonight. A win for Palace would move them six points clear of relegation danger. If Arsenal win then they move back to 5th and will be four points from the top four.
The weekend win for West Ham was important. Not only did it end their disastrous form of late, but it also moved them a lot closer to safety by beating a side which could have caught them from the bottom. The side will likely pick up a few more points before the end of the season but will need to look ahead to next year to ensure a more consistent season.