West Ham are above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference alone, and they have some incredibly challenging fixtures on the horizon. It would only take defeat by a four-goal margin to the Premier League runaway leaders Liverpool, to leave the Hammers in the drop zone heading into their clash with Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend. Even at this early stage in his tenure, David Moyes will be feeling the pressure if West Ham continue their trend of being mauled by the Premier League’s top three.
The Hammers’ largest home and away defeats this season have been their opening and most recent games. On the first day of the season, Champions Manchester City used the occasion as a procession to come out 5-0 victors at the London Stadium, while Moyes’ recent trip to the King Power Stadium culminated in a 4-1 defeat. The only other occasion that West Ham have faced the top three was Manuel Pellegrini’s final match in charge, where a much-changed Foxes side won 2-1.
With the Hammers confidence taking a knock from their latest Premier League match against Leicester, they must turn their form against the very best around. In their next four games, they play Liverpool twice and visit the Etihad Stadium, a run that could leave the Hammers in serious relegation trouble and very low on confidence if they are not resolute. A repeat of last season’s 4-0 loss at Anfield and defeat to Manchester City by the same scoreline would ramp up the pressure at the London Stadium.
While Moyes will not be expected to emerge victorious from any of his three clashes with the two best sides in England, staying in the game will be vital. Conceding early goals that could possibly lead to player’s heads dropping is something West Ham could do with avoiding in their current predicament. Moyes might be wise to move to a back five which could be considered damage limitation, though staying tight defensively will be pivotal in transforming West Ham’s form against the top three.
