Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith delivers verdict on West Ham top-four chances
The race for the Premier League top-four is heating up and West Ham are still in the mix despite their recent poor performances.
Only six points separate fourth-placed Hammers and eighth-placed Wolves, and it looks like an intriguing race for who will qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves all have games in hand, and they can leapfrog West Ham in the table, and Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith feels that the Hammers’ run-in to the season looks tricky.
Smith wrote for Sky Sports: “The win over Watford has got them back on track but West Ham’s run-in to the season looks tricky, with trips to Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Brighton to come.
“They also face Wolves, Arsenal and Man City at home and have played at least one more game than the teams around them.
“If they are going to reach the top four, West Ham will have to do it the hard way.”
Need strong finish
The Hammers started the season with a bang but they have suffered a slight blip in form, especially after the last international break.
The successive defeats to Arsenal and Southampton in December have hurt them badly, and David Moyes’ side needs to build up a strong momentum once again.
The performances in recent weeks haven’t been great, but the important thing is they are picking up wins which should add confidence.
This season, West Ham have proved that on their day they can beat any side. The other rivals are dropping points as well, but the Hammers can’t rely on them.
The failure to add depth to the squad could come back to haunt them. Michail Antonio still remains the only striker at the club, while Issa Diop’s poor form means Moyes can hardly rely on him.
With Europa League games coming up as well, the squad will be thoroughly tested. Smith is spot on that the Hammers need to do it the hard way.
In other West Ham news, there is internal trouble brewing at the London stadium as the Kurt Zouma scandal goes on.