West Ham United improved their chances of securing a place in the Champions League next season following their big win over bottom club Sheffield United. The Hammers needed to win to leapfrog defending champions Liverpool into the top four in the race for Champions League football and that was what West Ham United did. The Hammers beat Sheffield United 3-0 in their league encounter to replace Liverpool in fourth place. Only the first four teams will qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season and West Ham United are an unlikely challenger mixing it with the big boys thanks to the work done by manager David Moyes.
Sheffield United have not been able to achieve results on a consistent basis in the league this season and this is why they are the last team on the Premier League table. A win over West Ham United would have see the Blades leapfrog West Brom from bottom to second bottom on the Premier League log. The Blades started well against their hosts. They enjoyed some good attacking forays into the West Ham United box but they were not clinical enough to trouble the Hammers. This has been the story of their season. West Ham United went on to take the lead towards the end of the first half after Sheffield United defender Chris Basham brought down Jesse Lingard in the box. Declan Rice is a target for Chelsea, Manchester United and the other big boys and he stepped up to give West Ham United the lead during the Sheffield United game on Monday night.
The penalty from Declan Rice gave the Hammers a slim 1-0 half-time lead. West Ham United added a second goal towards the hour mark through French centre back Issa Diop before substitute Ryan Fredericks rounded off a comprehensive 3-0 win for the Hammers; who moved up to fourth position as a result. They would go on to drop to fifth spot after Chelsea claimed the much coveted fourth position later on Monday with a 2-0 home win over Newcastle United through goals from first half substitute Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner.