Following a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Southampton at the end of September, West Ham looked bereft of confidence and were lying 18th in the Premier League table with just three points from their opening six matches.

However, October has certainly provided a change in fortunes for Slaven Bilic and his Irons side, and they are looking to record their third successive top-flight win when they travel north to face Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

An impressive 1-0 win at Crystal Palace was followed up by a last-gasp triumph by the same scoreline at home to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at the London Stadium, thanks to an injury time goal from Winston Reid, with the Hammers now sitting just four points below Manchester United in seventh.

While there are still issues to be sorted off the pitch, here are three reasons why the club can extend their winning run on Merseyside...

THEY ARE SOLID AT THE BACK

The Hammers conceded 14 goals in a four-game spell between the end of August and end of September, but since then they appear to have gone back to basics and are far more organised, with the opposition finding the net just once in their previous three Premier League clashes.

Bilic opted for a back three in the 1-0 win against Palace, and stuck with it for the success against the Black Cats, with Cheikhou Kouyate especially impressive at the back rather than in his usual defensive midfield role for the club.

WEST HAM ARE UNBEATEN IN THREE, EVERTON WINLESS IN FOUR

Ronald Koeman's side's season has almost followed an opposite pattern to their opponents from the capital this weekend, with four wins from their first five matches being following up with just two points from the last 12 available.

Their latest result was a 2-1 loss to lowly Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend, but they can count themselves unlucky after dominating proceedings.

The Toffees are unbeaten in the league at home this term, but they could still be having nightmares about the corresponding fixture back in March, when they were leading 2-0 in the 78th minute, but went on to lose 3-2.

THEY'VE GOT DIMITRI PAYET

That brings us on to our third reason. Monsieur Payet.

The Frenchman was instrumental in that incredible comeback, assisting the equaliser before netting the last-minute winner.

His fine form last term and at the Euros has carried on into the new season, and he currently leads the Premier League tables for chances created (30) and assists (four).

Everything positive in an attacking sense for the Irons goes through Payet, and he is sure to be their key man once again on Sunday afternoon.