Billie Eilish Challenges Sabrina Carpenter For U.K. No. 1 Single

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” (Island) continues to perk in the U.K., where the U.S. singer and actor’s pop hit leads the midweek chart. There’s a contender in the wings, however, in the form of Billie Eilish’s “Lunch.”

Based on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company at the halfway stage, “Espresso” is pouring it on for what could be a fourth consecutive stint at No. 1.

The top new release will belong to Billie Eilish with “Lunch,” arriving at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update. “Lunch” is fewer than 1,500 chart units away from “Espresso” in second place.

“Lunch” is lifted from Eilish’s third studio album Hit Me Hard And Soft (Interscope), which, as previously reported, is currently outselling the rest of the top 5 combined and should give her a third-consecutive No. 1. If “Lunch” has a feeding frenzy in the second half of the U.K. chart week, Eilish could snag a relatively rare double.

Two more cuts from Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft could also crack the top 10 – “Chihiro” (at No. 7) and “Birds Of A Feather” (No. 10). If those tracks hold their course, the U.S. pop phenomenon’s tally of U.K. top 10 appearances would lift to 12, including No. 1s with 2020 release “No Time to Die,” which debuted at the top for the biggest-ever opening week for a Bond theme, and 2023’s Barbie Movie theme “What Was I Made For.”

Behind the tasty 1-2 is Shaboozey’s country number “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which is forecast to complete the podium, holding at No. 3. It’s one of three U.S. country songs in the midweek top 10, ahead of Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” (down 3-4 via American Dogwood/Empire) and Dasha’s “Austin” (holding at No. 9 via Warner Records).

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, May 24.