West Ham United: 4/10 Aaron Cresswell struggles, 9/10 shines – Player ratings v Bayer Leverkusen
David Moyes oversaw a fantastic performance as West Ham drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium despite not doing enough to qualify for the next round of the Europa League.
It was the polar opposite of the game in Germany as the Hammers took the game to their opponents and played on the front foot throughout just as the fans had demanded.
An early header from Michail Antonio put the Hammers in with a fighting chance at a comeback victory as they set about Leverkusen from the first whistle, heading into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
However, the team began to tire after half-time while Leverkusen’s composure in possession saw them take control and score late via a deflected Jeremie Frimpong effort.
West Ham player ratings v Bayer Leverkusen
West Ham Zone has rated each West Ham player out of 10 below…
Lukasz Fabianski – 7
Had far less to do in the second leg than he did in the first thanks to the aggressive pressing of Moyes’ side but did his job well when called upon and kept his side in the game for large periods.
Left helpless as the ball deflected over him for the Leverkusen equaliser.
Vladimir Coufal – 6
A strong defensive performance as ever but left a bit to be desired when it came to helping Jarrod Bowen up the right-hand side, although that is nothing that hasn’t been said before. A strong performance at the back but not too much more than that.
Kurt Zouma – 7
His aerial presence became important the later the game went and he held the line well, shepherding his teammates as he finally turned in the performance of a West Ham captain and looking strong in all aspects.
Nayef Aguerd – 6
A solid performance until he was unfortunately bright off with an injury shortly before half-time as his eventual return to the first team ended in disappointment regardless of his display.
Charlie Cresswell – 4
An average first-half display with not much to do, sitting deeper while Mohammed Kudus was allowed to push forward, but did not make much impact.
His age and tiring legs left him exposed at times towards the end of the game with the pace of Frimpong starting to cause issues and score as the ball deflected off of him. Often stepped in when he should have backed off and vice-versa, leaving West Ham vulnerable down his side.
Edson Alvarez – 8
Showed just how much the Hammers missed him in the first leg as his tenacious and relentless defensive style kept the team stable in midfield. It was an archetypal performance from the Mexican – tough tackling, winning his duels and breaking up play. Excellent.
James Ward-Prowse – 7
Played further forward than he may have been used to in the past with Alvarez’s presence allowing him to do so. He led the press from the front and provided an added bit of quality in possession. His role was key in a terrific performance.
Thomas Soucek – 7
His physicality in midfield proved a key asset again alongside Ward-Prowse. When his partner would push higher he would drop in to keep the middle of the pitch secure, playing a vital role in tandem with Alvarez.
Mohammed Kudus – 6
Slightly less impressive than he had been on previous occasions but still played his part in West Ham’s attacking resurgence as he joined the press and showed his quality on the ball in flashes. Became more isolated the more Leverkusen grew into the game.
Jarrod Bowen – 9
Bowen’s return from injury proved inspirational for West Ham as he drove the team forward from the first whistle, picking up an assist as every attacking move went through him.
As expected, due to his lack of game time recently, he grew tired as the game went on and was the victim of some questionable refereeing decisions – but it was a very impressive display regardless.
Michail Antonio – 9
It was his header that put the Hammers in with a chance at a fightback, showing bravery and strength to jump between the challenges of two Leverkusen players to power the ball home.
His hold-up play and relentless running provided a constant outlet for the Hammers and allowed them to maintain their intense pressure throughout. He was also extremely hard done by with refereeing decisions during his battle with the opposition defenders.
Subs
Angelo Ogbonna – 7
Ben Johnson – 6
Maxwel Cornet – 6
In other West Ham news, Atletico Madrid are looking to sell one striker amid interest.
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