Premier League: Will West Ham reach a crucial 40-point mark in the relegation battle?

The 40-point mark – or thereabouts – could come back to the fore when it comes to ensuring Premier League survival this season, with a squad in form. West Ham Try to chase the sides above them.

This legendary figure is often cited as the minimum at which managers, players and fans can relax – but the total has not been needed to stay at since the 2010-11 season.

Before this, the only other occasions on which clubs had been demoted by 40 or more points were 1996–97, 1997–98 and 2002–03.

But could that be about to change?

West Ham, who is ranked 18th in the Premier League, is only three points behind Nottingham Forest, who is ranked 17th, who sacked their coach Sean Dyche after a goalless draw with Wolverhampton on Wednesday.

While Tottenham – who fired their coach Thomas Frank on Wednesday – occupies sixteenth place, two more points behind Forest.

With 12 games remaining, history shows that the Hammers are more than capable of staying put, and in Nuno Espirito Santo they have a manager who knows what it takes to stay relevant from his time at Forest.

West Ham’s current points tally (24) is the 18th most ever at this stage of a season since 2019-20, when the Hammers recovered to stay top on 39 points.

They are arguably the standout club in the lower reaches of the table, with three wins helping them take 10 points from their past five matches.

Leeds also appear to have found some momentum with recent wins over Fulham and Forest as well as draws with Everton and Chelsea.

On the other hand, Tottenham managed to get a meager four points from the previous 27 available to them.

Meanwhile, Forest without a manager have won just two of their past 10 matches, and Brighton and Crystal Palace fans may also be looking over their shoulders.

The Seagulls, who are in 14th place (31 points), are going through a bad period, having won only one league match since November 30.

Palace – who are one place and a point ahead of Brighton – have tasted victory just once since December 7, and most recently squandered a two-goal lead when they lost to struggling Burnley.