West Ham could only sit and watch as relegation rivals Leeds United pulled off a huge win at Man United on Monday night – but it could be the best thing to happen to the Hammers all season.
All West Ham eyes were on Leeds United’s trip to Old Trafford with the Hammers hoping – and expecting – that Daniel Farke’s side would lose.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham side are sitting outside the Premier League relegation zone for just the third time all season following a 4-0 win over Wolves.
Tottenham’s defeat at Sunderland and Forest’s draw with Villa means the relegation dogfight remains as tight as it has been for a decade.
Why shock Leeds win is the best news yet for West Ham
West Ham are the side with all the momentum having picked up 18 points from their last 12 games and have both Forest and Leeds very much in their sights.
Without a win in 2026 and now sitting in the bottom three, Spurs have become the favourites for the drop with many.
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Premier League table after 32 gameweeks with West Ham's Crysencio Summerville in background
Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport
Simon Jordan has made a U-turn on West Ham dropping, saying Spurs are doomed instead.
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With injuries piling up and no win in six, though, Leeds were also being tipped to be the team to drop.
Noah Okafor celebrates scoring for Leeds at Man United
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
So a huge 2-1 win at Man United has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons of the Premier League survival battle, applying even more pressure to the likes of the Hammers, Spurs and Forest.
But West Ham could be the big winners from that Leeds win in a surprising relegation twist.
Many Hammers fans have been down in the dumps about the Leeds result as it put a four-point gap between them and the Elland Road outfit.
That is effectively a five-point gap given Leeds’ superior goal difference.
Leeds safety and FA Cup exploits may hand West Ham a final day walkover
Many feel the result leaves Leeds on the brink of safety – which could be secured when they play basement boys Wolves at home this weekend.
Meanwhile the Hammers have a difficult trip to bogey side Crystal Palace on Monday night.
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But West Ham should not despair too much because that Leeds result could benefit them more than anyone in the battle to stay up.
Leeds are now widely expected to go on and secure survival with relative ease.
Farke’s side can then throw everything into their FA Cup semi-final against out-of-sorts Chelsea.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Leeds manager Daniel Farke. Inset, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi
Credit: Sam Bagnall – AMA/Catherine Steenkeste via Getty Images
West Ham welcome Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day of the season. And it is now looking like a win-win scenario for Nuno’s men.
With Leeds likely well safe by then they could be on the beach, increasing West Ham’s chances of a vital win.
Things could get even better, though, if Leeds go on to make the FA Cup final, which takes place the weekend before the final game of the season.
Win and Leeds will be partying all week with open top bus parades celebrating silverware and safety.
Lose and they will be devastated and demoralised with little motivation heading into a dead rubber away at West Ham.
It is looking like it could be a walkover for West Ham against Leeds on the final day.
So in actual fact the biggest losers of Leeds United’s win at Man United are Spurs.
Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:
Team Remaining fixtures (Opponent + H/A)
West Ham United Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H)
Nottingham Forest Burnley (H), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (A), Newcastle United (H), Man United (A) and Bournemouth (H)
Tottenham Hotspur Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (A), Leeds United (H), Chelsea (A) and Everton (H)
Leeds United Wolves (H), Bournemouth (A), Burnley (H), Spurs (A), Brighton (H) and West Ham (A)
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