West Ham United remain a point clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone following their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Hammers currently sit 16th in the table after Lucas Paqueta’s first-half goal at St James’ Park, with David Moyes’ side picking up four points from their last two league matches.
It was the start of a three-game run that on paper at least, looked challenging, but the Hammers got more than many expected from their trip to Tyneside.
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Next up is the first of two straight London derbies when they play host to Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, eight days before heading to Tottenham Hotspur before concluding February at home to 13th place Nottingham Forest.
Despite that tough run, in their next four league games West Ham have only the third-hardest run of sides currently in the bottom seven.
Southampton, currently rock-bottom of the Premier League table, have the easiest run of the current bottom seven, with three of their next four games coming against sides around them.
Bournemouth, sat in 19th, have the toughest run, with their next four opponents averaging a league position of between fifth and sixth. Three of their next four opponents are Newcastle, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Here is a look at the current bottom seven’s next four fixtures and how they compare to the rest of the sides currently fighting to beat the drop, with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest only narrowly ahead of the current bottom seven.
14th Leicester City (P21, 21pts)
11/02 Tottenham Hotspur (H) - 5th
19/02 Manchester United (A) - 3rd
25/02 Arsenal (H) - 1st
04/03 Southampton (A) - 20th
Average position of next four opponents : 7.25 (second hardest)
15th Wolverhampton Wanderers (P21 20pts)
11/02 Southampton (A) - 20th
18/02 Bournemouth (H) - 19th
24/02 Fulham (A) - 8th
04/03 Tottenham Hotspur (H) - 5th
Average position of next four opponents : 13 (second easiest)
16th West Ham United (P21 19pts)
11/02 Chelsea (H) - 9th
19/02 Tottenham Hotspur (A) - 5th
25/02 Nottingham Forest (H) - 13th
04/03 Brighton and Hove Albion (A) - 6th
Average position of next four opponents : 8.25 (third hardest)
17th Leeds United (P20 18pts)
08/02 Manchester United (A) - 3rd
12/02 Manchester United (H) - 3rd
18/02 Everton (A) - 18th
25/02 Southampton (H) - 20th
Average position of next four opponents : 11 (middle)
18th Everton (P21 18pts)
13/02 Liverpool (A) - 10th
18/02 Leeds United (H) - 17th
25/02 Aston Villa (H) - 11th
05/02 Nottingham Forest (A) - 13th
Average position of next four opponents : 12.75 (third easiest)
19th AFC Bournemouth (P21 17pts)
11/02 Newcastle United (H) - 4th
18/02 Wolverhampton Wanderers - 15th
25/02 Manchester City - 2nd
04/03 Arsenal (A) - 1st
Average position of next four opponents : 5.5 (hardest)
20th Southampton (P21 15pts)
11/02 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) - 15th
18/02 Chelsea (A) - 9th
25/02 Leeds United (A) - 17th
04/03 Leicester City (H) - 14th
Average position of next four opponents : 13.75 (easiest)
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