Reggae Boy Michail Antonio scored his 12th goal for West Ham United before limping off with an apparent hip injury as the Hammers cantered to a 4-0 victory at already-relegated Norwich City in the English Premier League on Sunday.
The win, thanks to Said Benrahma’s brace, 32-year-old Antonio’s strike – his first Premier League goal since New Year’s Day – and a penalty from Manuel Lanzini, left the Hammers just three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United in the final Europa League spot, with a game in hand.
West Ham also has the added security of being in pole position for the Europa Conference League should they miss out on it, sitting five points clear of closest rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Manager David Moyes, whose victory was offset by a triple injury blow, said his side has had their appetite whetted for further European football despite the disappointment of their midweek defeat to German club Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals.
“We are desperate to get back into Europe. After Sunday’s win at Carrow Road, we’ve had an unbelievable experience,” Moyes said.
“It isn’t something West Ham have had regularly, and not for a long time. The supporters enjoyed it, and we had a great trip. We are trying to get into the Europa League or Conference League.”
It took just 12 minutes for the Hammers to open their account. Jarrod Bowen fed Benrahma on the left after a swift attacking move, and he fired a deflected shot under goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Norwich’s defensive frailties were exposed again as Antonio made it 2-0 at the half-hour mark. Bowen’s reverse pass appeared to have been dealt with by Grant Hanley, but Krul collided with his captain to allow the striker to tap into an empty net.
However, the match came at a cost to Moyes, whose side’s next match is at home to leaders Manchester City next Sunday.
Antonio did not return for the second half, Craig Dawson had to be withdrawn in the second half after colliding with advertising hoardings, and Algerian Benrahma had to be helped off the pitch with a painful-looking foot injury.
Reggae Boyz’s target Mason Holgate climbed off his sickbed to grab the winner. Everton moved out of the Premier League relegation places by holding on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
A superb sixth-minute volley by Vitaliy Mykolenko and 25-year-old center-back Holgate’s 30th-minute header gave manager Frank Lampard’s side their third win in five games and ensured they remain in control of their destiny with four games to play.
The unmarked Holgate, of Jamaican ancestry through his grandparents, was quickest to react after Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept out Richarlison’s initial header from a corner by Demarai Gray, another Reggae Boyz target, to restore the Toffees’ lead after Patson Daka had equalized on 11 minutes.
Everton moved up to 16th with victory, one point above Burnley and Leeds United, who lost 2-1 to Arsenal to drop to 18th.
The Toffees have played one game fewer than their relegation rivals.
“We had a plan, and the players stuck to it, no matter what happened or if they scored,” Lampard said afterward.
“Mason [Holgate] was sick yesterday; he couldn’t train with us, couldn’t travel with us, arrived at the hotel separately, and then woke up this morning and said, ‘I’m playing this game. That is the attitude that will get us through.”
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