West Ham’s heavy 5-2 defeat at Liverpool looked like a hammer blow in the relegation battle. Instead, 24 hours later, it feels like an unexpected reprieve.

Results elsewhere have handed the Hammers a crucial lifeline. Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 loss at Brighton and Tottenham’s defeat by the same scoreline at Fulham mean Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain within touching distance of safety.

With 10 games to go, the margins are thin — but the door is still open.

Rivals Slip, Pressure Remains

Had Forest won, they would effectively have moved six points clear given West Ham’s inferior goal difference. A Spurs victory would have stretched the gap even further.

Instead, both stumbled.

It means West Ham can climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since November if they beat Fulham in midweek — provided Forest fail to get something at Manchester City.

For a side that looked down and out at Anfield, the turnaround in mood is stark. But it only matters if they take advantage.

Defensive Fragility Still the Biggest Threat

The Liverpool defeat once again exposed the Hammers’ soft underbelly — particularly from set-pieces. Conceding 15 goals from corners this season is the worst record in the Premier League and underlines a systemic issue.

Going forward, there have been positives. The midfield has competed, chances have been created. But at this stage of the season, defensive lapses are fatal.

Nuno has already identified six matches he believes West Ham must win to stay up. The draw against Bournemouth was supposed to be one of them. That opportunity was missed.

Now Fulham becomes non-negotiable.

The Timing Could Be Perfect

There is another twist in the tale. Forest and Spurs still have to play each other, guaranteeing dropped points for at least one rival. Leeds remain in the mix too after losing to Manchester City.

Momentum in a relegation scrap can swing quickly. Sam Allardyce once famously suggested it can take up to eight games to claw back a six-point deficit. West Ham have avoided that scenario — but only just.

The next few fixtures are daunting. After Fulham, West Ham face Manchester City and Aston Villa. But if they can seize the moment now, they keep themselves alive heading into a run where others will inevitably falter.

Sink or Swim

This is the stage of the season where survival is earned, not gifted.

West Ham have been handed a second chance. The stars aligned this weekend — rivals slipped, the gap remains manageable, hope flickers.

But Nuno knows lifelines mean nothing without action.

Beat Fulham, and the narrative shifts from despair to belief. Fail again, and the reprieve will feel like a cruel delay rather than a turning point.

The great escape is still possible. Now West Ham must prove they deserve it.