How high can West Ham finish in the Premier League

It’s been a season of ups and downs for West Ham United. 

David Moyes’ men have experienced a false start to the new calendar year after closing 2023 out on a high. 

Yet to win a game in 2024, the Hammers have not only bowed out of the FA Cup to second-tier Bristol City, but they find themselves stranded in the Premier League mid-table amid a three-match losing league streak.

Last weekend’s disheartening 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest condemned West Ham to a sixth consecutive winless league match, intensifying pressure on Moyes ahead of the Brentford clash.

Stuck in ninth, albeit only two points adrift of seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, the London giants must get back on the rails to reignite their pursuit of a third European finish in four years.

Long-term injuries to fundamental first-team players, including Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio, have plagued West Ham’s lofty ambitions, but there’s still enough time to rectify past mistakes. 

The betting odds favour the two teams directly above them – Newcastle United and Brighton – but the Hammers have always defied the odds and given their rivals’ own recent runs of bad form, West Ham fans will be expecting Mayoes and co to climb up the table before the season is over.

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Critical stretch

Brentford’s upcoming visit to the London Stadium marks the beginning of a must-win three-game sequence as West Ham are about to take on three relegation candidates in succession.

Encounters against Everton and Burnley are up next before an ominous-looking stretch, which will see the Hammers lock horns with Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. 

With Moyes’ future under threat, the three forthcoming matches could define the Scottish manager’s career in the capital amid talks of the club’s genuine desire to replace the ex-Manchester United boss.

According to Mail Sport, they’ve drawn up a list of candidates to replace the 60-year-old, featuring the likes of Graham Potter, Julen Lopetegui and Steve Cooper. 

On the other hand, talkSPORT reports outgoing Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel could take over the reins at the end of the season despite his miserable reign at the Allianz Arena.

One way or another, Moyes can’t afford a mistake against Brentford, even though his standout performer, Paqueta, would likely miss out on that fixture.

He is on the verge of recovery, but Monday’s all-London showdown will come too soon for the Brazilian star. 

There’s a feeling that any potential slip-up in the coming weeks could halt Moyes’ tenure at the London Stadium. There’s no margin for error if they’re to build momentum ahead of more high-profile contests.

Home form requires immediate improvement

West Ham fans would expect the London Stadium to be the Hammers’ safe haven, but that’s rarely been the case in 2024.

After a brace of low-scoring draws against Brighton and Bournemouth, Moyes’ team succumbed to a humiliating 6-0 defeat to cross-city rivals Arsenal in their last home outing.

Such an embarrassing result was unfathomable when considering West Ham thumped the Gunners 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium at the tail-end of 2023. 

However, such form fluctuations perhaps best illustrate United’s topsy-turvy campaign.

Confidence stems from the fact they had won three of their four home league matches before the abovementioned three-match winless run. 

West Ham’s form issues on home turf could be attributed to Paqueta’s absence, as they’ve proved terminally unable to score goals without their talismanic playmaker.

James Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth remains the Irons’ only goal in three Premier League fixtures at the London Stadium in 2024.

European finish within reach

Despite all the setbacks, West Ham are still within striking distance of a coveted seventh-place finish. 

With Paqueta nearing full recovery and Antonio back to the squad, better days are on the horizon. 

For Moyes, the math is simple – either you win the next three matches or get fired. 

The veteran coach has proved well-versed in thriving in such an atmosphere, having avoided dismissals by the skin of his teeth in recent seasons.

Another miraculous comeback would at least temporarily save him, and West Ham have more than enough quality to get their stuttering Premier League campaign back on track.