Tottenham or West Ham? Inside the final three-game battle to avoid relegation | OneFootball

With three games remaining in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, the battle to avoid relegation to the Championship looks set to go down to the wire.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ relegation has already been confirmed, while Burnley will follow them in a swift return to the Championship. But there’s one more slot unaccounted for.

Nottingham Forest took themselves out of the equation when they secured a third consecutive Premier League victory by mauling Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

That victory put a six-point buffer between them and the relegation zone.

With Forest on the ascendancy, the battle for survival will likely come down to two London rivals who will slog it out during the final three weeks of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur made a massive statement with their 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend, moving them out of the relegation zone and into 17th place.

It was the first time they had won back-to-back Premier League games since August 2025, and was enough to reignite their hopes of surviving relegation.

Tottenham’s survival hopes have been helped by West Ham United’s 3-0 defeat against Brentford.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked to be building momentum, but the defeat to Brentford opened the door for Tottenham to climb out of the bottom three.

Here’s how the remaining fixtures look for Tottenham and West Ham.

Tottenham Hotspur: 17th, 37pts

Leeds United (H) – May 11

After getting their first taste of victory against already-relegated Wolves, Tottenham looked hungry for more against Villa and could maintain that momentum until the end of the season.

Leeds are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games but may take their foot off the gas having already secured their place in the top flight.

They will still pose a significant threat, but it may come down to who wants it more. Tottenham have shown they’re not throwing in the towel.

Tottenham 3-1 Leeds

Chelsea (A) – May 19

After taking on Leeds, Tottenham head west of the capital to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Spurs over the years, and could evoke memories of the famous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ with plenty riding on this fixture.

Tottenham haven’t won a Premier League game at Chelsea since April 2018, so the best Roberto De Zerbi and his troops could hope for is a draw.

Everton (H) – May 24

Tottenham wrap up the campaign at home to Everton, who have proven to be tough nuts to crack.

The Toffees haven’t been in the best form, but they could still hurt Tottenham’s survival hopes. But they haven’t won at Tottenham since September 2020, so Spurs should be able to nick a result.

Tottenham 1-0 Everton

West Ham United, 18th, 36pts

Arsenal (H) – May 10

West Ham have a knack for throwing a spanner in Arsenal’s title challenges and will get another chance to do so when both sides renew hostilities on May 10.

Having won two of their last five games against the Gunners, the Hammers will be motivated to pull off another shocking upset with their Premier League survival hanging by a thread.

The only problem with that is they haven’t beaten Arsenal at the London Stadium since January 2019.

Newcastle United (A) – May 17

Newcastle United have had a miserable campaign of their own after going from Champions League qualification to languishing in the bottom half of the table.

They could offer West Ham a chance to pick up valuable points, and the Hammers are no strangers to winning at St James’ Park, having secured a 2-0 victory in their most recent visit.

West Ham 2-1 Newcastle

Leeds United (H) – May 24

Ending the campaign at home to Leeds gives West Ham the ideal platform to make a statement ahead of the new season.

Getting a result here could be the difference between relegation and survival, so it’s perhaps a bad omen that West Ham have alternated between defeat and victory in their last four home games against Leeds.

They’ve also won just one of their last four games against Leeds, so the best they may get from this fixture is a draw.

West Ham 2-2 Leeds 

Who’s more likely to survive the run-in?

Tottenham already have their noses in front at a crucial point in the relegation battle, so West Ham are facing a tall order to reclaim 17th place.

On paper, Tottenham have a smoother run-in than West Ham, who still have to face title-chasing Arsenal at the London Stadium.

The game against Chelsea is a tough one for Tottenham, but ending their woeful streak against them is far more feasible when facing a side that has lost six league matches in a row.

Tottenham vs Chelsea and West Ham vs Arsenal will undoubtedly be the defining fixtures of the relegation battle. Spurs are in a better position to get over the line.