West Ham United

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Paul asked: Am I the only one who thinks West Ham have been punching above for a few seasons now? Looking at teams and squads above, in and around, I would say overall they are doing well. I understand the gripe from fans with the style of play, but, results-wise, I think ninth is about right with the quality of squads above them. David Moyes is a goner, but I can't see the next man doing that much better, if at all. Seems playing more exciting football would be better than good results for some West Ham fans.

Phil answered: I agree with much of that, Paul. I do think David Moyes has done a very good job at West Ham United and brought them a European trophy and yet I do not think he gets the credit he deserves.

I do think the time has come for change because it all seems pretty joyless for everyone at West Ham and things do sometimes run their course.

You make a good point, though. I'll be very interested to see if the manager who replaces Moyes (Julen Lopetgui) does any better than him. And if playing more attractive football but finishing lower in the Premier League makes their fans any happier.

I do think the time has come for Moyes to leave West Ham, but hopefully people will not forget what he achieved for them. He can be proud of his work there.

Image source, Getty Images

Julen Lopetegui's only previous experience of managing in England was his nine months in charge of Wolves, which ended a few days before the start of the current season.

He arrived at Molineux in November 2022, just before the World Cup break, with Wolves bottom of the Premier League and four points from safety. Aided by some astute signings during the January transfer window, Lopetegui guided Wolves to a final position of 13th, with the team taking 31 points from his 23 league games in charge.

Nine of those 23 games were victories, including memorable home successes against Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Form at Molineux was pivotal to their survival. Utilising a back four with two holding midfield players for most of their matches under the former Real Madrid and Spain boss, a defensively-solid Wolves kept clean sheets in seven of their 11 home league fixtures after Lopetegui's appointment. Four of the seven goals they conceded in those games came in a horrid capitulation against Leeds.

Only 23 goals were scored in those 23 league outings, however, and as good as their home results were, picking up points away from Molineux was more of a struggle.

The two victories, at Everton and Southampton, came courtesy of late winners. A dismal 6-0 loss at Brighton in April was a particular low point of his reign, as was the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal on the final day of the season.

Lopetegui's departure came after public complaints by the Spaniard regarding Wolves' summer transfer policy, and he left in August 2023 following what were described at the time as "differences of opinion on certain issues" - although it was also said that the split between the parties was an amicable one.

With the news that former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is set to become the new West Ham manager after agreeing a deal in principle with the club, David Moyes' second spell in charge of the Hammers could soon be coming to an end.

It would bring to a close what has been ultimately a successful time with the club, keeping them in the Premier League and leading them to their first piece of silverware in 43 years with the Europa Conference League trophy last season.

He also broke club records during this second stint in the dugout, winning a record 19 Premier League matches and amassing a record 65 points in 2020-21 with another record +15 goal difference on their way to a sixth-place finish.

The 61-year-old has managed them in three seasons in Europe, with a memorable run to the Europa League semi-finals in 2021-22 and that first European trophy last season.

In his first spell at the club between November 2017 and the end of the 2017-18 season, the Scotsman took charge of 31 games in all competitions, winning nine, drawing 10 and losing 12.

He guided the club out of the relegation zone and to 13th place in the table, securing safety with two games to spare.

Overall he would be leaving east London with a win percentage across all competitions and two spells of 42.7%.

But, Moyes has come under increasing scrutiny this campaign, with recent heavy defeats taking them out of contention for another season in Europe and his style of play being a bone of contention among West Ham supporters.

With his contract up at the end of the season and Lopetegui now waiting in the wings, Hammers fans look set to see whether the grass really is greener on the other side.

Image source, Getty Images

Julen Lopetegui has agreed a deal to become West Ham manager at the end of the season.

The former Wolves boss is yet to sign a contract, but BBC Sport understands the 57-year-old is close to making a return to management following his departure from Molineux in August.

Current boss David Moyes is out of contract in the summer and has repeatedly fended off questions over his future, insisting talks would not take place until after their final game against Manchester City on 19 May.

Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui has been linked with a number of jobs but is thought to be keen on returning to the English top flight after guiding Wolves to safety last term, having joined them when they were bottom of the table.

What do you make of the news West Ham fans?

Is Lopetegui the right man for the job?

Should Moyes have had a new contract?

Have your say

Image source, Reuters

West Ham were "never going to be the same" without Declan Rice following his £105m move to Arsenal last summer, says QPR goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Without the England midfielder, who captained West Ham to Europa Conference League victory last season, the Hammers have conceded 70 goals in their 36 Premier League games this season.

David Moyes' side, beaten 5-0 at Chelsea on Sunday, are now unlikely to qualify for a European competition next season.

Begovic told the BBC's Football Daily podcast: "We've talked about Brighton and some of the other teams who lose such key players that are just irreplaceable.

"You try to do it as a collective, but when you lose a player of that calibre, it has a massive effect on a team and they were never going to be the same."

Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards added: " A £105m bargain - he's made that price tag look such good value for money."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Friday and Saturday's games on Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham boss David Moyes to BBC MOTD: "We've had one or two this season which have hurt just as much as this one.

"Today's was sore - we did a lot of things wrong today generally. Mainly doing your own jobs, doing the jobs correctly. If you've done the jobs correctly, then we wouldn't have been so bad.

"We played a lot better in the second-half but we gave away two diabolical goals in the second half which wouldn't have made much difference.

"But, when you hit the bar three times at Chelsea, when you have a great chance to score - it wasn't that it was a day where we didn't have opportunities but nearly everything we have done was not done particularly well."

"I was livid with the goals we gave away - people not in the right positions, people not doing their jobs well enough.

"It wasn't as if we didn't have a go or try. The second-half obviously we had to try and shut up shop and didn't want to concede anymore goals. That's why I'm happier because at least we did a better job in that way but we still conceded two goals.

"We've just not had good enough protection in front of the back four and then we've not done well enough.

"We're just lacking a real mental toughness when needed."

Image source, Getty Images

Conceding goals is becoming a bad habit for West Ham.

After shipping five at Chelsea they have now conceded 70 across the season, with only bottom three clubs Burnley (74), Luton (78) and Sheffield United (100) boasting a worse defensive record.

It is the fourth time that they have conceded five goals or more in a league game this term and means their season is heading for an unsatisfactory conclusion.

West Ham were woeful in the opening 45 minutes and had no answer to stop Chelsea coming forward at will.

The Blues scored three in the first half but it could have been four or five.

Nicolas Jackson's second half double added the gloss to Chelsea's performance as David Moyes was left to pick up the pieces once again.

Jarrod Bowen did hit the crossbar on three occasions and could have had a hat-trick on another day, however, West Ham struggled to create many other opportunities.

With Moyes' future already hanging in the balance, reports this week suggested the club have spoken with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, this result has only pushed the Scot closer to the exit.

A fourth successive season in Europe is now almost certainly not on the cards for the ninth-placed Hammers with just two games left to play.

• Chelsea have won nine of their last 11 Premier League home games (D1 L1). Since the start of December, they have the joint-most home wins (9, level with Arsenal) and home points (28, level with Man City) in the competition.

• One day before his 22nd birthday, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer became only the third player in Premier League history to reach 30+ goal involvements in a single season while aged 21 or younger (21 goals, 9 assists), after Robbie Fowler (twice - 1994-95 and 1995-96) and Chris Sutton (1993-94).

• West Ham have conceded 70 Premier League goals this season, their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition (also 70 in 2010-11), and the most a side managed by David Moyes has ever shipped in a single top-flight season (overtaking Sunderland’s 69 in 2016-17).

• Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher has been directly involved in 12 goals in the Premier League this season (5 goals, 7 assists), now his outright most in a single campaign in the competition (previously 11 in 2021-22 for Crystal Palace).

• Nicolas Jackson has scored 13 goals in 32 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, one more than he scored in 35 LaLiga matches for previous club Villarreal (12).

• West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna made his 200th Premier League appearance, becoming only the second Italian to reach that tally in the competition, after Gianfranco Zola (229).

Chelsea strengthened their chances of securing European football next season, cruising to victory against West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

It took just 15 minutes for Chelsea to get their noses in front with Cole Palmer reacting quickest to meet a loose ball in the West Ham box.

West Ham almost hit back immediately when Jarrod Bowen's header crashed back off the crossbar, but it was one-way traffic from then on.

Chelsea doubled their lead on the half-hour mark through Conor Gallagher before Noni Madueke headed in the third six minutes later.

Nicolas Jackson struck twice in the second half to round off a wholly positive afternoon for the Blues.

With just three games left to play, Chelsea's season seems to be heading for a strong finish as they have climbed up to seventh and sit just two points shy of sixth-placed Newcastle, while West Ham, who have two games remaining, stay ninth.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Chelsea fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, West Ham fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

There are three Premier League matches today, and we will keep you updated on all the action.

Follow live text coverage over here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The more I see and read about David Moyes' situation at West Ham, the more I am expecting them to shake hands and part company at the end of the season... and then they will bring him back a few months later when they are struggling.

I don't think Moyes has got enough credit for the overall job he has done at the Hammers, but with only one win in their past eight league games, their current form is not great.

This is Chelsea's second London derby of the week, and another big game for them in the battle for sixth and seventh spot. It is going to be close, but I fancy them to edge it.

Nathan's prediction: 2-3

Read all of the predictions here

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between Chelsea and West Ham in the Premier League.

• Chelsea have lost just one of their past 17 home league games against West Ham United (W12 D4), a 1-0 defeat in November 2019 under Frank Lampard.

• West Ham are looking to record just their third ever Premier League double over Chelsea after doing so in 2002-03 and 2019-20.

• Chelsea have won just one of their past 13 Premier League matches played on Sundays (D5 L7), a 3-2 win over Brighton in December this season.

• West Ham have gone 15 Premier League games without a clean sheet - last having a longer run without a shutout in the top flight between March and November 2008 (24 games).

• Cole Palmer has scored or assisted against 13 different Premier League opponents this season for Chelsea and he is yet to face West Ham. Only six different players have scored or assisted against 14 different teams in a Premier League season for the Blues - most recently Eden Hazard in 2018-19 (15).

• Michail Antonio currently has 99 goals and assists combined in the Premier League for West Ham (67 goals, 32 assists). He could become the first ever Hammers player to get 100 involvements in the competition. He has four goals in his past seven league appearances, as many as in his previous 26 combined.

David Moyes has been speaking to the media before West Ham's match at Chelsea on Sunday.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• On West Ham technical director Tim Steidten taking a step back from the first team: "We don't want any distractions - we keep our eye on the ball. Tim has his job to do and I have mine. We have three games to play and we want to keep focused."

• He respects the good form opponents Chelsea are in: "We're going to have to play well to get a result against them. There are lots of tough stadiums to go to, and Stamford Bridge has always been one of those. We'll go there and do everything we can to get three points."

• On Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino: "Mauricio is one of the finest managers there is. I don't need to talk about him because he's managed at the top clubs and will continue to do that. Chelsea should be thankful they have a top manager. He has a good up-and-coming team, who given time will improve as they go along."

• On whether he still has the hunger to take West Ham forward: "Absolutely. I'm nearly embarrassed for you that you asked me that. I love football - I'm a football nut. I go to games, I watch games, I love it. I really do.

• When asked if he will be at West Ham next season: "I said to everybody that we'll make a decision at the end of the season."

• On the proposed Premier League spending cap: "I always hoped that money wouldn't be the biggest thing in football. When Leicester won the league, that was a good example of that, and you want football to give teams a chance. I hope there is a cap, that there is something that controls spending. I'm not an expert about it but as a football man I'd like all teams to be able to strive for success."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Listen to full commentary of Chelsea v West Ham United from 14:00 BST online on our live text coverage

Image source, Getty Images

The news West Ham's technical director Tim Steidten has been barred from the first team by manager David Moyes is not a good look.

Steidten is leading the hunt for a new manager, which has seen the Hammers linked with Julen Lopetegui, Paulo Fonseca and Ruben Amorim in recent days. Wolves boss Gary O'Neil - a former West Ham player - has also been mentioned.

Given he still has a job and is not due to have his own talks about the future with the West Ham hierarchy until after the season has ended, Moyes has concluded it is potentially disruptive to have Steidten around.

This is understandable - but it hardly smacks of a harmonious situation.

West Ham do still have - albeit very slim - a chance of qualifying for Europe for a fourth successive season. And if they hold on to their present ninth position, it would represent their joint-seventh highest finish in almost 40 years.

However, many fans have been critical of the style of play under Moyes and it seems inevitable he will leave London Stadium at the end of the season.

West Ham, Brighton, Fulham and Benfica are monitoring Vitoria de Guimaraes and Portugal winger Jota Silva, who has a £17m release clause. (Rudy Galetti), external

West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has been barred from the first-team dressing room as he hunts a replacement for manager David Moyes. (Standard), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column