Tottenham can confirm their safety in the top flight - and relegate West Ham - as early as Tuesday night.
The Irons have been scrapping with Spurs in a two-horse race to dodge relegation for some time, but made a potentially fatal slip-up as they were beaten 3-1 by Newcastle in the penultimate match of their campaign.
Taty Castellanos was West Ham’s sole goalscorer on the day, with his remarkable lobbed effort insufficient to cancel out previous strikes from Nick Woltemade and William Osula.
The result leaves West Ham with just two wins in their last eight Premier League matches as they missed another opportunity to climb out of the drop zone.
And a dreaded first relegation since 2011 could now be confirmed as early as Tuesday night, when Tottenham head across London to face Chelsea.
Relegation permutations: How Tottenham can confirm safety and relegate West Ham on Tuesday
Tottenham visit Chelsea on Tuesday night. The must-win match will be staged at Stamford Bridge, a ground where they have won only once since 1990.
They come into the match with a game in hand to 18th-placed West Ham, who they now lead in the table by two points.
If Tottenham beat Chelsea on Tuesday, they will move five points clear of the Hammers with one match left to play, thereby condemning the east London outfit to the Championship.
However, if Tottenham and Chelsea draw, the relegation battle will be determined on the final day of the season. Such a result would leave Roberto De Zerbi’s side three points ahead of the final day, when Spurs host Everton and West Ham face Leeds.
A draw at Stamford Bridge would effectively confirm West Ham’s relegation, though, given Tottenham’s considerably stronger goal difference.
If Chelsea come out on top on Tuesday, Tottenham will remain two points ahead of West Ham, again leaving the relegation battle to be decided on the final day of the season.
