West Ham
Reasons for optimism: West Ham got here from behind to pinch a point against Manchester City on Saturday and, for 18 wonderful hours, they tasted life outdoors the relegation zone. This was their first spell outdoors the underside three in 112 days and, though outcomes on Sunday dragged them again down, these fleeting hours supplied a glimpse of hope. West Ham have taken 15 factors from their final 9 video games – solely 4 groups have picked up extra in that interval they usually all occupy spots within the high six. We are lastly starting to see Nuno Espírito Santo’s blueprint: West Ham are protecting issues tight on the again, scoring targets from quick breaks and have solely misplaced one in every of their final six league video games.
Reasons for warning: They want all of the momentum they’ll get as they’ve a troublesome run-in, with Aston Villa, Arsenal, Newcastle and Brentford all to return earlier than what might be a last-day reckoning in opposition to Leeds. Every level will should be earned the onerous means.
Tottenham
Reasons for optimism: Hope has been in brief provide of late, however the battle Spurs confirmed in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday – after which against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League in midweek – would possibly simply be the primary glimpse of sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. Tottenham travelled to Anfield on the again of 5 straight defeats within the league however, for the primary time in months, they performed with some perception and organisation. It was not the efficiency of a staff that’s winless in 2026 and lacking 13 first-team gamers by harm. Spurs had extra photographs on the right track than Liverpool and had been lastly rewarded for his or her persistence when Richarlison equalised within the ninetieth minute. “We came here with 12 players and this is really something big for me, for our club, for the team,” stated supervisor Igor Tudor. With fixtures in opposition to Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leeds to return, Spurs followers will be hoping this week is their springboard to security.
Reasons for warning: One level in opposition to Liverpool solely papers over the cracks. Spurs haven’t gained any of their final 12 league video games – their worst run for the reason that 1934-35 season, after they completed final and had been relegated. Discipline and management stay main considerations, with Cristian Romero’s pink playing cards and Micky van de Ven’s pricey lapses emblematic of a staff that usually loses management in necessary moments. They have picked up simply 10 factors at their very own stadium this season – the worst dwelling report within the Premier League and the second worst in England’s high 4 tiers after Sheffield Wednesday. Spurs wouldn’t have the luxurious of competing in opposition to a dire backside three, like they did final 12 months, and attracts might not be sufficient to save lots of them. Lose to Nottingham Forest on Sunday they usually will be in large bother.
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are seventeenth within the desk, simply above the relegation zone due to their superior aim distinction to West Ham. They can pull additional clear in the event that they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have gained their final three matches in opposition to Spurs and are beginning to present some indicators of stability beneath Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth supervisor this season, which is hardly excellent, however his deal with video evaluation and one-to-one work have improved outcomes. Forest got here from behind twice to attract with Manchester City on the Etihad earlier this month they usually have backed that up with one other draw in opposition to Fulham and a win over Midtjylland within the Europa League. They are taking steps in the proper path at a pivotal level within the season.
Reasons for warning: Pereira has admitted his gamers are fighting the calls for of competing in Europe and a relegation battle: “I’m not the kind of person who tries to find excuses, but it’s not easy to play four games in 12 days because they are not machines,” he stated earlier this month. But the large video games preserve coming. They are off to Porto within the quarter-finals of the Europa League after the worldwide break. Pereira also needs to be fearful about his staff’s lack of innovative; they’ve failed to attain in 14 of their 30 matches this season and have the second worst attacking report within the league after Wolves. Forest are sorely lacking Chris Wood, who has been injured since October however stays one in every of their high scorers this season. With Spurs, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United to return of their final eight video games, the targets will should arrive quickly.
Leeds
Reasons for optimism: They are three factors away from the relegation zone and have a beneficial run-in, with video games to return in opposition to Wolves, Burnley, Tottenham and West Ham – all sides beneath them within the league – and only one fixture in opposition to a aspect within the high six. They ought to be cautiously optimistic, particularly after a collection of more and more gritty shows in current weeks, greatest encapsulated by their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last Sunday. A missed penalty and harsh pink card may need crushed different relegation candidates, however not Leeds. They regrouped at half-time, shifted right into a defensive 5-3-1 formation and defended like their season relied on it, denying Crystal Palace a single shot on the right track in the whole match. It wasn’t fairly nevertheless it was the resolute show of a aspect hellbent on survival.
Reasons for warning: Leeds draw too many video games. They have solely misplaced 4 of their final 17 matches … however they’ve solely gained 4 of them. They are additionally far too reliant on their dwelling kind, with only one away win all season. The excellent news is that they nonetheless have dwelling matches to play in opposition to Wolves and Burnley.
This is an article by WhoScored
