FANCY PLAYING LADBROKES 5-A-SIDE?
THE so-called Big Six have had a monopoly on England’s four Champions League places for 15 seasons – Leicester’s 2016 champions the sole side to break the cartel in that time. So even with the Hammers and Leicester fourth and third respectively ahead of the weekend, you won’t find too many people prepared to say with much conviction that Chelsea and/or Liverpool in particular won’t restore order by the season’s end.
Despite losing at home to Manchester City, a defeat more convincing than the 2-0 scoreline suggests, the Foxes still hold a five-point buffer to the fifth-placed Blues.
They were also third at this stage last season but Brendan Rodgers’ side lost four of their last eight games to miss out to Manchester United at the death.
However, there has been little sign of a similar fall-away this time, Leicester won their previous three games and cannot be blamed for trying to stifle a City side who have swept all before them.
They were also boosted by the return of James Maddison as a substitute after a hip problem, although it felt harsh for Kelechi Iheanacho to make way after his recent goalscoring exploits.
The Hammers are missing Declan Rice as a result of the knee injury suffered in England’s 2-1 win over Poland. They coped pretty well in his absence on Monday night, racing into a 3-0 lead at Wolves although they were left hanging on for three points at the end.
You may wonder how many goals David Moyes’ men must score to make a game safe right now, having also led Arsenal 3-0 in their last home game only to see the Gunners fight back and secure a point.
As an attacking force, however, whereas last season there was an over-reliance on Michail Antonio, the goals seem to come from anywhere – with Jesse Lingard’s loan arrival having taken them onto a new level.
On Champions League talk, Moyes rightly says: ‘Nobody would have envisaged or mentioned that last season. Can we keep it going? We are going to try and compete with the big teams right until the end.’
And if one man can, Moyes can. Apart from Leicester, it was his Everton side who last gatecrashed the top-four party in 2005.