West Ham passed Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea to rank among the top four teams in the Premier League on Monday.
But the injuries of two of his best players could make it difficult for the team to remain in that position.
Jesse Lingard inspired the 3-2 win against Wolverhampton. The midfielder advanced from midfield to score a goal and also assisted on another from substitute Jarrod Bowen.
Lingard has reached six goals in eight games since signing on loan from Manchester United in February, a streak that earned him another call-up for the England team.
With the victory, West Ham climbed to fourth place “the last qualifying place in the Champions League” with eight games to go, prolonging their resurrection under the tutelage of David Moyes. The London club has never played in the top European competition.
We have to go on and assume it. Why not? Said Moyes. I’m listening to the commentators talking about West Ham having a chance to be in the Champions League, no one would have believed or mentioned that last season.
But the team will not have Declan Rice, who could be out for four weeks. The midfielder missed the match at Molineaux after injuring himself in England’s game last week.
Michail Antonio could also be out of court for some time after coming out with a hamstring injury in the 32nd minute. It’s the most recent misstep for Antonio, who Moyes switched from winger to center-forward and is the only experienced attacker on the team.
Antonio broke away from several defenders before shooting wide at a low angle and immediately signaled to the bench.
Pablo Fornals scored the other goal for West Ham, who led 3-0 in the 30th minute, only to see his lead narrow with a header from Leander Dendoncker at 44 and a goal from substitute Fabio Silva in the 68th.
The Wolves also suffered from an injury prior to their league game and it is a major one. Spanish winger Jonny Otto injured the anterior cruciate and medial cruciate ligaments in his right knee in training on Sunday.
West Ham’s triumph came after Leicester and Chelsea, the teams that started the weekend in third and fourth place, lost on Saturday, while Tottenham drew 2-2 at Newcastle on Sunday.
THEY DENY EVERTON
Everton conceded a goal in the 86th minute and drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, missing a chance for a win that would have put Carlo Ancelotti’s side three points behind West Ham and one game short.
Michy Batshuayi, who entered in the 84th minute, immediately hit home with a left foot to the bottom corner.
James Rodríguez played his first game with Everton in six weeks and opened the scoring in the 56th minute.
Everton remained in eighth place, still hot in the bidding for tickets to Europe.
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