Tottenham's season now comes down to one afternoon at home to Everton, after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge left their safety unconfirmed. Richarlison scored late for Tottenham after goals from Enzo Fernández and Andrey Santos had put Chelsea ahead. Spurs go into the final day 17th in the Premier League on 38 points.
What Tottenham need against Everton
The cleanest route is simple enough. Beat Everton and Tottenham stay up. A draw is also likely to be enough because their goal difference is stronger than West Ham's, and one point would surely do for Spurs now, as The Independent put it. That is why the 2-1 defeat matters without making the picture hopeless.
The numbers leave Tottenham with the edge. They have 38 points, West Ham have 36, and the two sides are separated further by goal difference. One source describes Tottenham's cushion as 12 goals, while the Independent's permutation guide puts it at 13 better. Either way, Spurs are in the better position.
Why West Ham still need help
West Ham are the side waiting on events elsewhere. They are 18th on 36 points and host Leeds on the final day, but even victory may not be enough unless Tottenham lose as well. Their task is harder because they need their own result and a swing from Tottenham's game too.
That leaves Spurs needing to avoid a collapse rather than chase a rescue. Their home match against Everton controls the whole fight, and West Ham's trip against Leeds only becomes decisive if Tottenham slip. If Spurs win, the argument ends there. If they draw, the balance of the table still points their way. If they lose, West Ham finally get a real chance to drag them in.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
