Coufal catastrophic, Summerville superb – West Ham ratings v Manchester City
West Ham United suffered another heavy Premier League defeat on Saturday, losing 4-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Hammers began on the front foot as Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek put early chances wide, but were soon behind as Savinho’s effort was deflected in off Vladimir Coufal after just 10 minutes.
Coufal was again run ragged by Savinho as the Brazilian skipped past him and crossed for Erling Haaland to head City 2-0 in front after Kudus and Lucas Paqueta spurned further Irons opportunities.
Any hope of a revival was soon snuffed out as Haaland and Phil Foden netted their third and fourth, but Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back with a left-footed finish from Soucek’s cross.
West Ham Zone rated the performance of every Irons player at the Etihad Stadium.
Coufal and Kilman calamitous for West Ham v Manchester City
Alphonse Areola – 5
Had Savinho’s early shot covered, only for Coufal’s attempted block to send the ball past him and make it 1-0. Made a good stop from the Brazilian’s next effort, also saving with his legs from Bernardo Silva and denying Rico Lewis from range, but those saves soon counted for nothing in the second half, with Areola twice caught in no man’s land as Haaland and Foden both scored.
Vladimir Coufal – 3
Did his best to block Savinho’s early shot from the left, but his touch proved crucial in sending the ball past Areola and into the back of the Hammers’ net for an own goal. Was exposed by the Brazilian again and beaten all ends up as Haaland headed in City’s second. Forced a save from Stefan Ortega in the second half following Kudus’ own blocked effort.
Jean-Clair Todibo (off for Konstantinos Mavropanos, 53′) – 6
Put in several strong defensive headers away from danger in the early stages, and was in the right place at the right time to cut out Haaland’s through ball for Savinho in the box with the scores already 2-0. Todibo pulled a muscle while making this challenge, which forced him off early in the second half.
Max Kilman – 3
Not able to find many passing options out of defence amid waves of City pressure, but then crucially lost his grip with Haaland as he rose to nod in the hosts’ second at the far post. Kilman was left grasping at straws again in the second period, as the striker ran off him to dart into the box and chip Areola for 3-0.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Defensively solid at left-back again, clearing almost everything which came his way and cutting out dangerous crosses aplenty into the area. A half-volley sat up kindly for him to strike late in the second half, but Wan-Bissaka could only fire over the top.
Tomas Soucek – 6
Dragged wide from right in front in the early stages, and this miss proved crucial as City took the lead from the very next attack. Did his best to make up for that in the second half with a close-range effort saved by Ortega and header wide from a corner, either side of teeing up Fullkrug for the consolation at 4-0 down.
Edson Alvarez (off for Danny Ings, 87′) – 4
Heavily involved in the midfield battle, but City soon found ways past him either by thumping the ball diagonally or committing numbers forward. Clattered in the second half by Haaland and moved gingerly thereafter, before being hooked late on for Danny Ings.
Lucas Paqueta – 4
Lucky to avoid an early yellow card and went close to making the difference with a shot from the edge of the box, but could only pull it wide of the far post. Had a chance to reduce the deficit at 4-0 down, but sent a curling free-kick just over the bar, before clipping a pass-through for Soucek’s close-range effort.
Mohammed Kudus (off for Luis Guilherme, 71′) – 5
Had arguably the Irons’ best first-half chance, running in behind the City defence before being forced wide and only finding the side netting, and alongside Summerville was their most dangerous attacking outlet on the counter in the first half until being withdrawn midway through the second.
Niclas Fullkrug – 5
Did his best to be involved in build-up play early on but was soon chasing shadows, and picked up a booking for a tug on Savinho’s shirt. All-but anonymous in the second half before popping up to slot home a left-footed consolation and make it 4-1.
Crysencio Summerville – 7
Burst through and in behind Akanji at 1-0 down but was penalised by the referee, before another run resulted in a yellow card-worthy foul from Kovacic. Further sprints into open pasture led to a missed chance for Kudus, and another yellow, this time for Kyle Walker, followed a mazy run from the Dutchman before he curled a long-range effort wide and lashed a half-volley over from close range.
Substitutes
Konstantinos Mavropanos (on for Jean-Clair Todibo, 53′) – 4 – Under the cosh straight away, Mavropanos didn’t commit to a challenge on Savinho which allowed him to slip Haaland through to make it 3-0 and was similarly absent for the fourth.
Luis Guilherme (on for Mohammed Kudus, 71′) – N/A – Finally given some decent game-time by Lopetegui, but the Brazilian couldn’t replicate Kudus’ level of threat in the final third with the Hammers already beaten.
Danny Ings (on for Edson Alvarez, 87′) – N/A
In other West Ham news, the Irons are one of several Premier League sides offered the chance to sign an international winger this month.
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