West Ham inflict more Premier League pain on Man Utd

West Ham inflicted a 17th Premier League defeat of the season on Manchester United as the Europa League finalists continued to struggle.

There was a celebratory mood at Old Trafford after United’s Europa League exploits last Thursday and the home side, who made six changes from the side that set up a final clash with Tottenham on May 21, started brightly.

Amad was the spark and he was denied by a smart save from Alphonse Areola, but the atmosphere soon went flat as West Ham, who were without win in eight league games themselves, took control.

Mohammed Kudus was the standout player on the pitch and his drilled cross into the six-yard box was flicked in from close range by Tomas Soucek to give the visitors the lead.

The problems continued to mount up for Man Utd in the second half as Leny Yoro was forced off through injury just 10 days before the Europa League final.

The West Ham supporters were celebrating again soon after as Manuel Ugarte was caught in possession by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Kudus then exploded into space and the ball broke for Wan-Bissaka, who decided against shooting and played the ball across goal for Bowen to tap home at the far post.

Man Utd tried to find a way back into the game and their best opportunity fell to Rasmus Hojlund, but the striker was brilliantly denied from close range by Areola at full stretch as the Hammers sealed a first league win since February.

The three points moves West Ham above Man Utd into 15th. Meanwhile, United, who have now suffered back-to-back league defeats at Old Trafford, are without a league win since March 16.

More to follow.

More damning Man Utd stats

Manchester United suffered their ninth home Premier League defeat of the season, their joint-most ever home losses in a single league campaign, along with 1930/31, 1933/34, and 1962/63.

United have fallen 1-0 behind 12 times at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season, with only Leicester (15) doing so more at home in the 2024/25 competition, while it’s the Red Devils’ most ever in a single Premier League campaign, overtaking 11 times in 2023/24.

Man Utd are winless in seven Premier League games (drawn two and lost five), their joint-longest ever run in the competition, also going seven without victory from September to November 1992.

West Ham have completed only their fifth ever top-flight double over United, after 1926/27, 1928/29, 1976/77, and 2006/07. Indeed, this was the Hammers’ first league win at Old Trafford since 2006-07, ending a run of 16 league trips there without a win (drawn three and lost 13).

Story of the match in stats…

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