LONDON — Manchester United lost a Premier League game for the second time in four days as they were beaten 1-0 by West Ham at London Stadium.
– REPORT: Man United lose at West Ham thanks to De Gea error
After losing at Brighton on Thursday, United dropped more points in the race for the top four after David de Gea’s howler gifted West Ham a victory that all but ensures their Premier League survival, with 37 points traditionally good enough to avoid relegation.
Erik ten Hag’s team started well and had a host of chances in the opening 15 minutes, but West Ham took a lead in the first half and held on tight when Said Benrahma‘s weak shot from 20 yards was palmed into his own net by De Gea.
Rapid reaction
1. Man United limping towards the end of the season
The Dutch manager says his ultimate aim at United is to build a team capable of winning the biggest trophies at home and abroad, but there is a strong argument to be made that De Gea doesn’t deserve a place in it. There are significant doubts about whether he’s good enough on the ball to help Ten Hag build out of the back — he passed the ball straight to Declan Rice after just a couple of minutes on Sunday — and when he’s making mistakes like the one to gift Benrahma what would prove to be the game-winning goal, it’s hard to make a case for him to stay.
Ten Hag kept De Gea as his No.1 this season because he had other priorities in the transfer market, and that may well be the case again this summer. But if United use most of their budget on a striker, then one budget-friendly option could be to bring back Dean Henderson after his loan spell at Nottingham Forest and give him a run in the first team.
De Gea has been a fantastic goalkeeper for more than a decade, but the time is fast approaching for Ten Hag to decide whether he’s good enough to help take United to the next level and challenge Manchester City.
3. Further proof that Rice would fit into any top-six team
It’s not often a player is so good that you can make a case for him improving every top-six side in the Premier League, but Rice is pretty close. He’s an outstanding No.6, but can also play further forward as a No.8; it would be no surprise at all if the biggest clubs in England were queuing up for his signature in the summer.
– David de Gea: 2nd error leading to goal in Premier League this season, T-4th most among all players (only Lloris, Gueye and Meslier have more)
– Said Benrahma (WHU): 2nd goal vs Manchester United this season (all comps); also scored in FA Cup loss on March 1
In the past 5 Premier League seasons, only Jordan Pickford has more errors leading to goal than David de Gea: Everton‘s Pickford (13) leads De Gea’s 11, with Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris (9) and a trio of keepers (Liverpool’s Alisson, Bernd Leno of Fulham and Martin Dubravka, who was with Newcastle) on eight.
– Manchester United has not won a game in the past 2 PL seasons in which they trailed at half-time
– Man United: Top-4 odds drop from 87% to 76%, per FiveThirtyEight
Up next
West Ham: David Moyes’ side have a busy week ahead as they try to avoid relegation while also competing for a trophy in Europe. The Hammers host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal before a tricky trip to Brentford next Sunday.
Manchester United: Ten Hag & Co. have just the Premier League to worry about until the June 3 FA Cup final with Manchester City. Saturday they travel to Wolves in a league clash from which both sides could really use points.
