This might well be it for Tottenham Hotspur. By the time they next play, a week on Sunday against Manchester United, Chelsea might already be champions.
One cannot say that they have blown the title race, given that their previous run of nine wins in nine cut a lead of 10 points to four, but their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Friday means Chelsea can confirm their title win should they beat Middlesbrough on Sunday then West Brom next Friday.
Manuel Lanzini scored the only goal of an exciting, if often scrappy, derby at the London Stadium, which was unusually atmospheric for the visit of Spurs. At the end, manager Slaven Bilic roared in celebration and perhaps relief, while the fans sang "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" with a gusto rarely heard this season.
For West Ham, these three points dispelled any remote possibility that they might be relegated. So tight is the bottom half of the table that this win takes them into ninth, on 42 points, 10 clear of the bottom three. The relief was palpable.
West Ham had the better of the opening stages, two early chances falling to Lanzini, with a left-footed shot, and Sam Byram, whose back-post header was turned behind for a corner.
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