Julen Lopetegui does not deserve West Ham United job after Liverpool loss
Julen Lopetegui is yet to show that he still deserves the West Ham United job after their latest defeat to Liverpool, Henry Winter has said.
The journalist posted on X (29 December) in the wake of the Irons’ 5-0 home loss to the Premier League leaders at the London Stadium, saying that their passiveness allowed the Reds to look “unstoppable”.
Lopetegui’s side had come into the match off the back of a four-game unbeaten run – the longest of his tenure so far – but that was quickly a distant memory as the Hammers hardly laid a glove on Liverpool.
Winter said: “Liverpool terrific, Salah unstoppable, but West Ham far too passive, barring Kudus and Bowen. Mavropanos always a risk, but they do have some good players.
“Recent four-game unbeaten run masks the fact they remain unconvincing under Lopetegui. He’s yet to show he deserves the job.”
Julen Lopetegui surely close to the brink at West Ham
Although Lopetegui has seemingly been given a vote of confidence by the Hammers following his side’s four-game unbeaten streak, they are now firmly back to square one following another heavy home loss.
It’s already the second time this season Liverpool have put five past the hopeless Hammers, having also beaten them 5-1 in the EFL Cup, and they’re far from the only side to embarrass Lopetegui this term.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have all pitched up at the London Stadium and come away with big victories, with away trips to Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Leicester ending in similar fashion.
With a number of capable managers still on the open market and the Irons’ hierarchy having been thinking about making a change for some time, Lopetegui surely doesn’t have much credit in the bank.
Amid puzzling summer recruitment and a clear failure to build on the foundations laid by David Moyes, the only thing keeping the Spaniard in a job seems to be an effort by the Hammers’ board to save face.
In other West Ham news, the Irons and a free-scoring Championship striker’s agent are already in talks over a January transfer.
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