West Ham supporters will be optimistic that Declan Rice can help his former club on Sunday afternoon.
The Hammers are in the midst of a Premier League relegation battle, with London rivals Tottenham among their competition.
Having earned an underwhelming point against Bournemouth on Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be hoping for other results to go their way.
The fanbase will have a keen eye on the North London Derby, where Rice can improve West Ham’s chances of survival.
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Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
Declan Rice could help West Ham in the North London derby
Nobody would have expected Spurs to be so close to the bottom three for a second consecutive season, but that is the reality.
The North London club have only four points more than West Ham ahead of the NLD against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Therefore, Hammers fans will be desperate for Arsenal to win this game, even if it helps them win the Premier League.
Declan Rice refuses to celebrate after scoring for Arsenal against his former club West Ham
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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And, with the Gunners’ attack misfiring throughout the season, Declan Rice will be under immense pressure to step up.
The box-to-box midfielder, who left West Ham for £105 million in 2023, is having another excellent campaign.
Although Rice will never be loved by the Hammers so long as he wears an Arsenal shirt, he could earn some goodwill with a match-winning performance.
Meanwhile, a derby defeat for Spurs in interim manager Igor Tudor’s first game would be a significant blow.
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A general view of the FA Cup trophy at Wembley.
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West Ham fans will also support Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
West Ham fans will also be keeping a close eye on Liverpool’s trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
While Spurs are still within reach, the Hammers are more likely to overtake Forest in their remaining 11 games of the season.
Nuno’s former side have recently sacked Sean Dyche and replaced him with Vitor Pereira, their fourth manager in six months.
Assuming that Liverpool secure all three points at the City Ground, West Ham will only be two points behind.
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