West Ham v Manchester United | 2022/23 PL | Three Crucial Things Learnt

We learnt three things as Manchester United suffered a 1-0 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, leaving them just one point ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League standings.

Said Benrahma scored the decisive goal for the hosts in the first half, which ended their three-match losing streak. In the second half, West Ham dominated play, while Manchester United came close to equalising with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial testing Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.

Nonetheless, the Hammers’ late defensive resolve secured their most crucial win of the season. With just three matches remaining, the victory moves David Moyes’s side seven points clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League.

1. De Gea Fails To Impress In Goal Once Again

Despite suffering two consecutive losses to Brighton and West Ham, manager Erik ten Hag believes his team can still turn things around with three wins from the four remaining games. Against the Hammers, De Gea’s error led to a goal from Said Benrahma.

David De Gea’s first half by numbers vs. West Ham:

26 touches
3/8 long balls completed
1 error leading to goal

A first half to forget. 🫥 pic.twitter.com/73YjMfIzs8

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 7, 2023

The Dutchman has expressed confidence in David De Gea’s performance despite his costly error in the defeat to David Moyes’ side. Ten Hag wants the Spanish goalkeeper to extend his contract with the club, and believes he is responsible for their top position, having achieved the most clean sheets in the Premier League.

2. United’s Season Ending On A Disappointing Note

The Red Devils’ season is rapidly falling apart, with two consecutive defeats leaving them with only themselves to blame. With just four games remaining, United’s exhaustion and spooking from Liverpool’s sudden surge up the table may be contributing to their poor form.

Manchester United have now won just 1 of their last 5 away games in all competitions:

✅ vs. Nottingham Forest
❌ vs. Sevilla
🤝 vs. Spurs
❌ vs. Brighton
❌ vs. West Ham

Trouble on the road. 🛣️ pic.twitter.com/l6NUTuqQ6g

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 7, 2023

As Liverpool rise and United sink, there is a real danger they may stumble towards the finish line, despite having an extra game in hand. Missing out on Champions League football would redefine their entire season and be a significant failure.

3. West Ham Reach Closer To Premier League Survival

Despite West Ham having limited opportunities, they displayed potential on the counterattack against Manchester United. However, their lack of precision in passing and finishing impeded their ability to score. Nonetheless, their fortune changed when Jarrod Bowen flicked the ball forward, causing Luke Shaw’s attempted clearance to deflect off Said Benrahma, allowing him to run onto the ball and shoot from range.

With only three league games remaining, they have practically secured their safety in the Premier League by reaching 37 points, which has been enough for survival in ten of the last eleven seasons. They can now focus on their Europa Conference League campaign.

The defeat at West Ham marks the first time that Manchester United have suffered back-to-back league losses since the beginning of the 2022/23 Premier League season when they were defeated by Brighton and Brentford in the first two games.

Meanwhile, Liverpool continues to impress with six consecutive wins. The atmosphere was celebratory as the home team left the pitch at the London Stadium, while the United players were dejected, knowing that the fight for a top-four finish is far from over.

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