Hammers aim to consolidate hopes for Champions League football with win over Everton

After Leicester’s defeat to Newcastle at the King Power on Friday evening, West Ham and Everton aim to boost their chances of European qualification on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers are the main challengers to Chelsea and Leicester for the third and fourth qualification spots, David Moyes’ side just three points off the pace ahead of the Blues’ fixture with Manchester City.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees are nine points adrift of a place in Europe’s premiere competition but victory at the London Stadium would increase their chances of securing Europa League qualification for the first year since 2017.

His team, led by 15-goal top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, have enjoyed success on their travels to the capital this campaign. A win against West Ham would secure a fifth win in London, a feat Everton have never achieved before.

The visitors should also be boosted by their form against West Ham in recent seasons, losing just one of their last 12 Premier League matches.

To gain a positive result once more, Everton will have to keep West Ham top scorer Michail Antonio at bay. The English forward has scored nine goals this campaign and hopes to join an exclusive list of Hammers strikers to net double figures in consecutive Premier League seasons.

David Moyes explained the influence of Antonio on the team ahead of the fixture.

“Michail is so important to us and he has been ever since we’ve put him in at centre forward. He was roughly the top goalscorer around those nine games after lockdown and he’s been very good this season too.

“Unfortunately we’ve lost him a few times to injury as well, but he’s back and in good spirits and we’ll hope that form continues to the end of the season.”

Declan Rice continues to be absent for West Ham after suffering a knee injury on international duty with England in March but the returns of Aaron Cresswell and Antonio in Monday’s win against Burnley gives Moyes options in his team selection.

Abdoulaye Doucoure returns for Ancelotti’s men this week, with James Rodriguez missing from their matchday squad for the fixture at the London Stadium.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Italian was keen to communicate the significance of Doucoure’s return.

“It is really important [to have him back]because he showed fantastic quality. He has helped the team a lot when he has played. It was a great surprise to have this kind of player.

“He was a really good signing and I hope he can show his quality in these few games we have before the end of the season.

“He put a lot of energy in midfield and to have him back for the next game will be really important.”

Ahead of kick-off in East London on Sunday afternoon, the two teams will already be aware of the results of the teams around them.

A first league double over Everton since the 1962/73 season would elevate West Ham’s Champions League hopes as we enter the last three games of the Premier League season.

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