Manchester City could hold the key to West Ham United’s Premier League survival if all the stars align.
West Ham are a club in crisis on and off the pitch and face a daunting task to stay in the Premier League.
David Moyes‘ side have gone off the rails of late losing three games on the bounce and conceding 11 goals in the process.
The Hammers are in the thick of a relegation battle while fan unrest has come to a head with supporters invading the pitch to protest against the way the club has been run by co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady.
The 3-0 defeat to Burnley last time out leaves West Ham just two points above the drop zone with a tough run-in featuring games against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester City, Everton and Manchester City.
But could the champions elect and indeed the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side to the London Stadium next month actually hold the key to West Ham’s survival hopes?
A unique set of circumstances could give Moyes a major boost and it is not as far-fetched as it might seem.
That’s because City can wrap up the Premier League title with two more wins. They face Everton next in a game they would be expected to win before potentially tight affairs against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
If City don’t manage to get two wins from those three they then have a golden opportunity to wrap up the league against West Ham’s relegation rivals Swansea on April 22nd – doing the Hammers a favour in the process.
Guardiola’s side could then face the first leg of a Champions League semi-final in midweek – if as is expected the favourites progress from the quarters – before facing West Ham on the Saturday (April 29th) and then the Champions League semi second leg in the days afterwards.
With the title wrapped up, the Champions League will undoubtedly be Guardiola’s key focus and he will surely rest a host of star players, particularly as City no longer have an unbeaten record to protect.
The Spaniard has already made sweeping changes to his teams in various competitions this season, recently losing at home to Basel, so West Ham would suddenly fancy their chances of an unlikely three points.
City could then do West Ham another favour by reinstating their strongest side for the final games of the season which both happen to be against the Hammers’ fellow relegation candidates Huddersfield and Southampton in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
The Hammers need to pull a rabbit out of the hat at some stage and the City game at home could well be it.
Yes there are a lot of if’s involved but should the stars align it could well have a huge impact on West Ham securing safety.
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