West Ham have taken a huge step towards Premier League survival after beating Man Utd 1-0 at the London Stadium.
The Hammers dug in deep against Erik ten Hag’s men and had plenty of chances to get on the scoresheet, but it was a huge error from David de Gea that gifted them three points, after Said Benrahma’s tame strike trickled into the back of the net.
An opening has now been created in the top-four race, with Liverpool and Brighton very much breathing down Man Utd’s necks.
Here is how the players rated at the London Stadium:
West Ham
Lukasz Fabianski – 7 – Assured and composed between the sticks. When Man Utd asked questions, West Ham’s reliable No. 1 was there to answer them.
Thilo Kehrer – 8 – His best performance in a West Ham shirt. Question marks have been asked about him defensively this season, but tonight he was a beacon of resilience and tenacity, and you can expect him to be starting in the foreseeable future at right-back.
Angelo Ogbonna – 7 – Powerful, aggressive, unrelenting, West Ham’s Italian stalwart was nigh-on impenetrable as he kept Man Utd’s attack suppressed with his supreme defensive work.
Nayef Aguerd – 8 – Slick and careful in possession, impervious and strong off the ball. When Man Utd threw balls into the box and tried to create openings, Aguerd was there to neutralise their efforts. When they pressed him, he had the composure and assurance to find a team-mate and calm things down.
Aaron Cresswell – 7 – Attacked with gusto. This was Cresswell at his finest. Defensively, he can be suspect at times, but he held his own tonight and consistently charged down the wing to offer Benrahma an overlapping option.
Declan Rice – 9 – Inspirational, the West Ham captain encapsulated the doggedness and determination about West Ham tonight, playing with his heart on his sleeve and showcasing exactly why some of Europe’s top clubs are chasing him. His ability to intercept and snuff out danger is world class, as his consistently shut down Man Utd forays and instigated attacking transitions himself. Casemiro didn’t stand a chance.
Declan Rice is the first player to reach 60+ interceptions in the Premier League this season. ? pic.twitter.com/3UdYM2lwLQ
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 7, 2023
Tomas Soucek – 7 – West Ham’s potato-salad eating engine was a paragon of tenacity and grit tonight as he beefed up the midfield and caused carnage aerially. He wasn’t necessarily slick with his passing, but that’s not what he’s there to do. Defensively he thwarted Man Utd’s attempts to attack and brought a real athleticism to West Ham.
Lucas Paqueta – 8 – West Ham’s creative catalyst, the Brazilian dug in deep to stifle plenty of Man Utd attacks, but his main contribution came in attack. Collecting the ball ‘in the hole’ and in dangerous areas, he was the release valve for Moyes, as he combined well with his attacking team-mates. A performance of real heart and guts.
Jarrod Bowen – 7 – Relentless and persistent, the England international didn’t get on the scoresheet tonight but it wasn’t for the want of trying. He surged forward in counter-attacking devastation and defended resiliently with his team-mates.
Said Benrahma – 8 – Bagged the goal and was announced as West Ham’s MOTM at the London Stadium. The fleet-footed winger straddles the line between mesmeric and wasteful but tonight he was the former. His goal ultimately separated the sides, but it was the build-up that typified his game tonight more than the strike itself, as he took the ball on, got his head down and drove at Ten Hag’s beleaguered defence.
Michail Antonio – 7 – This was the Antonio of old. He was aggressive and busy as he gave Shaw and Lindelof a torrid time. When West Ham were under the cosh, he was there to hold the ball up and bulldoze his way forward.
Substitutes:
Pablo Fornals (for Benrahma 86′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.
Flynn Downes (for Paqueta 90′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.
Ben Johnson (for Antonio 90′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.
Emerson (for Cresswell 90′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.
Man Utd
David de Gea – 2 – Had an absolute howler for West Ham’s goal as he meekly collapsed to the ground and offered a feeble hand to claw away Benrahma’s trickling strike. The Spaniard has been a firm pair of hands domestically, highlighted by his 15 Premier League cleans sheets this season — the most of any ‘keeper — but that clanger further underlined a worrying trend of errors.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6 – Imposed himself in the first half and surged forward in consistent waves of attack, but he was unable to get the better of Cresswell tonight, while his desperate lunge on Antonio elicited his second caution of the season.
Victor Lindelof – 5 – Battled well with Antonio as the duo went to war on the turf. It was an incredibly uncomfortable afternoon for the Swede as he struggled to contain West Ham’s bustling forward.
Luke Shaw – 6 – Made some vital tackles and looked to instigate attacking transitions, but he too came unstuck a few times against Antonio in what was a very physical contest.
Tyrell Malacia – 5 – Got stuck in and looked to offer his team-mates an outlet on the left flank, but far too susceptible in moments and quiet from an attacking perspective actually on the ball. It’s not enough just to get up the pitch.
Casemiro – 4 – Had the chance to really impose himself on Rice and showcase his experience, but it was the England international who dominated the midfield battle. Completely outclassed by Rice.
Christian Eriksen – 5 – Struggled to really impose his authority in the centre of the pitch, with his creativity stifled by West Ham’s persistent harrying and low block.
Antony – 6 – Looked lively in the first half and had a few openings from range, though his influence ultimately waned as the contest went on and was taken off 20 minutes from time.
Bruno Fernandes – 6 – Tried to make things happen for Man Utd, but West Ham’s defence was set up well with organisation and numbers.
Marcus Rashford – 5 – Had a few openings and surging runs but for the most part the inside forward was far too quiet and unable to unleash his attacking devastation.
Wout Weghorst – 5 – From an attacking perspective, the Dutchman was nigh-on anonymous as he struggled to really impose his authority in the final third, before ultimately coming off just after the restart.
Substitutes:
Anthony Martial (for Weghorst 56′) – 6 – Showed far more than Weghorst and nearly grabbed an equaliser at the death.
Jadon Sancho (for Antony 73′) – 6 – Brought energy and vigour, but not much else.
Marcel Sabitzer (for Eriksen 73′) – 6 – Similar to the above.
Diogo Dalot (for Wan-Bissaka 86′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.
Fred (for Malacia 86′) – N/A – Came on as a late substitute.