Tottenham ease past West Ham

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their push for a Premier League top-four finish with a well-deserved 2-0 home win over struggling London rivals West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their push for a Premier League top-four finish with a well-deserved 2-0 home win over struggling London rivals West Ham United on Monday. Tottenham started at a terrific pace and took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to an electrifying burst by winger Aaron Lennon. His cut-back was half-cleared but only as far as Luka Modric, who bundled it into the net to mark his first start since August with a goal.

Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone hit a post 10 minutes into the second half but the home fans were getting a little nervous until a sharp counter-attack nine minutes from time ended with Jermain Defoe smashing in the killer goal at the second attempt after Rob Green had failed to hold his initial effort.

The win takes Tottenham to 37 points and back into the top four. Leaders Chelsea (42 points), who have drawn three and lost one of their last five league games, host west London rivals Fulham in the pick of Monday's later games.

Benitez wants Liverpool to go on

Liverpool: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told his team that last weekend’s win over Wolves will count for little unless they defeat Aston Villa. Wednesday's match at Villa Park sees the Reds, five points off a top four spot that would secure a Champions League place next season, look to build on a recent run of two wins in their last three matches.

Whereas the 'Big Four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were once considered to be a ‘closed shop’, the emergence this season of Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City has freshened things up at the top of the table.