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A cat may have been thrown amongst the pigeons in the battle for Premier League survival and it could benefit West Ham while hurting Spurs.
The Premier League relegation battle is looking increasingly like it will be a straight shootout between bitter rivals West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.
Leeds are on the brink of safety with Wolves at home next while Forest, who face Burnley this weekend, are edging closer too.
The Hammers face Crystal Palace away on Monday night, by which time they will know what they have to do to either climb back out of the relegation zone again or increase the gap on Spurs depending on their result at home to Brighton.
West Ham joy and Spurs dread as Palace stars party
But there has been a potential major boost for West Ham and genuine Spurs concern as Crystal Palace stars celebrate making a European semi-final.
West Ham had their survival hopes enhanced as a top Palace duo suffered injuries in their Conference League quarter-final second leg clash away at Fiorentina overnight.
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The Hammers would have been watching on nostalgically as Palace advanced to the semi-finals of the competition they won – by beating Fiorentina – three years ago.
There is a much bigger prize at stake for West Ham and Tottenham now, though, in the form of Premier League survival.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
And Palace may play a big part after Oliver Glasner permitted his players to let their hair down and party into the night.
Eagles stars, led by charismatic goalkeeper Dean Henderson, have been filmed – and were filming themselves – partying on the streets of Florence.
The Palace players were singing terrace songs about themselves and dancing around as they revelled in their 4-2 aggregate victory.
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The scenes will bring a smile to West Ham faces because not only is it a trip down memory lane, but it could mean Palace’s players might be compromised for the game on Monday night.
That will not go down well with Tottenham Hotspur, who know they must beat the Premier League’s form team Brighton if they are to climb above West Ham and hope Nuno Espirito Santo’s side don’t win at Selhurst.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Roberto De Zerbi’s side lost his first game in charge 1-0 at Sunderland as the Hammers won 4-0 against Wolves.
That put West Ham’s survival in their own hands, as they know they must now match Tottenham’s results – and can even afford one less – in the final six games in order to stay up.
West Ham’s hierarchy believe two wins and and two draws will be enough to survive, which would put the club on 40 points.
Facing a Palace side who are safe from relegation, have been partying hard and have one eye on a European semi-final gives the Irons a massive chance to get one of those wins.
The Hammers then have winnable games against Everton at home, Brentford away and Leeds at home in their remaining five.
Relegation run-in remaining six fixtures:TeamRemaining fixtures (Opponent + H/A)West Ham UnitedCrystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H)Nottingham ForestBurnley (H), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (A), Newcastle United (H), Man United (A) and Bournemouth (H)Tottenham HotspurBrighton (H), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (A), Leeds United (H), Chelsea (A) and Everton (H)Leeds UnitedWolves (H), Bournemouth (A), Burnley (H), Spurs (A), Brighton (H) and West Ham (A)Join Our Newsletter
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