<\/p>\n
\n\tSabrina Carpenter\u2019s<\/a> \u201cEspresso\u201d (Island) continues to perk in the U.K., where the U.S. singer and actor\u2019s pop hit leads the midweek chart.<\/a> There\u2019s a contender in the wings, however, in the form of Billie Eilish<\/a>\u2019s \u201cLunch.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tBased on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company at the halfway stage, \u201cEspresso\u201d is pouring it on for what could be a fourth consecutive stint at No. 1.<\/p>\n \n\tThe top new release will belong to Billie Eilish with \u201cLunch,\u201d arriving at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update. \u201cLunch\u201d is fewer than 1,500 chart units away from \u201cEspresso\u201d in second place. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cLunch\u201d is lifted from Eilish\u2019s third studio album Hit Me Hard And Soft <\/em>(Interscope), which, as previously reported<\/a>, is currently outselling the rest of the top 5 combined and should give her a third-consecutive No. 1. If \u201cLunch\u201d has a feeding frenzy in the second half of the U.K. chart week, Eilish could snag a relatively rare double. <\/p>\n \n\tTwo more cuts from Eilish\u2019s Hit Me Hard And Soft <\/em>could also crack the top 10 \u2013 \u201cChihiro\u201d (at No. 7) and \u201cBirds Of A Feather\u201d (No. 10). If those tracks hold their course, the U.S. pop phenomenon\u2019s tally of U.K. top 10 appearances would lift to 12, including No. 1s with 2020 release \u201cNo Time to Die,\u201d which debuted at the top for the biggest-ever opening week for a Bond<\/em> theme, and 2023\u2019s Barbie Movie<\/em> theme \u201cWhat Was I Made For.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBehind the tasty 1-2 is Shaboozey<\/a>\u2019s country number \u201cA Bar Song (Tipsy),\u201d which is forecast to complete the podium, holding at No. 3. It\u2019s one of three U.S. country songs in the midweek top 10, ahead of Post Malone<\/a> and Morgan Wallen<\/a>\u2019s \u201cI Had Some Help\u201d (down 3-4 via American Dogwood\/Empire) and Dash<\/a>a\u2019s \u201cAustin\u201d (holding at No. 9 via Warner Records).<\/p>\n \n\tAll will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, May 24. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n