West Ham are currently 14th in the Premier League table with 23 points, 11 fewer than they had at this stage last season,

How else do they compare to last season?

Under Lopetegui West Ham have scored fewer goals per game and have won fewer points per game this season than last.

That said, they have taken more shots on goal per game and have recorded a higher xG per game. They just aren't taking their chances.

Defensively the Hammers have marginally improved.

Check out the stats below - Green highlights the better stat, red the worse.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray told BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella: "I think he'd be what the hierarchy want at West Ham. They want a better brand of football to be played at the London Stadium, and I think they'll be able to deliver that. They'll obviously have to be patient from the fan base for him to get his philosophy across to the players, all that takes time, I know.

"Preferably Graham would prefer to take over in the summer. But obviously, when it comes to jobs and when you're out of work, you've got to strike while the iron's hot and, well, pardon the pun, and step in, when need be, and I feel as though West Ham is a really good fit for Graham."

West Ham began talks with former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter before Lopetegui was sacked.

The Englishman has been out of work since he was dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023. He was not considered by the Football Association to replace Gareth Southgate as manager.

West Ham fans, do you want Potter to be your new manager?

Image source, Getty Images

Julen Lopetegui took charge of 22 games in all competitions after replacing David Moyes as West Ham boss last summer.

His tenure brought seven wins, five draws and 10 defeats, with 26 goals scored and 44 conceded. The Spaniard leaves the Hammers 14th in the Premier League table with 23 points, seven points above the relegation zone.

Lopetegui's Wednesday afternoon press conference was cancelled, though he still took first-team training on Wednesday morning.

Image source, Getty Images

A statement from West Ham read:

"West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the Club.

"The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the Club’s ambitions and the Club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.

"The Club can confirm that Assistant Head Coach Pablo Sanz, Head of Performance Oscar Caro, Head Analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, Fitness Coach Borja De Alba and Technical Coach Edu Rubio have also left with immediate effect.

"The Board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.

"The process of appointing a replacement is underway."

West Ham have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after just 20 Premier League games in charge.

Image source, Getty Images

A classic day on the #bbcfootball daily live text. This one will live long in the memory.

Here are some of the top stories of the day:

• Julen Lopetegui took West Ham training this morning but his afternoon press conference was cancelled. He is still expected to be dismissed
• France manager Didier Deschamps will step down after the 2026 World Cup
• Bournemouth striker Enes Unal will miss the rest of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in training on Tuesday

Thank you all for all your contributions, especially on your favourite niche trophies. Apologies to Newcastle fans for robbing you of the 1907-08 Sheriff of London Shield.

We hear James in Suffolk is planning an open top bus parade for the Willhire Cup. See you there.

Take care and catch you tomorrow!

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on the Football Daily podcast

Son [Heung-min] is a player that you just can't let go, yeah his form hasn't been what you would have expected of him because he has been consistent for so many years at Spurs. Eight or nine years he's been there, he's the player they looked to all the time, when Harry Kane was there. Harry Kane's not there so it's all about Sonny, it's all about the goals, the assists.

I think they've done well to keep hold of him, I do believe there would have been a queue at the door for Son's autograph if he hadn't have tied himself up at Spurs and I'm glad the manager has done that because he's the kind of player they need to keep for as long as possible.

Image source, Getty Images

• Liverpool (20) and Tottenham (18) have featured in the final four of the EFL Cup more often than anyone else.
• Liverpool have lost just one of their last 19 games in the League Cup (W12 D6).
• Spurs have never lost when playing the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final tie (including single-game ties) at home, winning five and drawing twice.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Do people not like him [Ange Postecoglou] because he's so straight and so blunt and he doesn't really fluff anything with his words, he just tells you exactly how it is? Maybe he should get more credit. I just think the frustration with the Spurs fans is they don't change a thing and they do exactly what he says to the letter, with them playing out from the back with the high line. They just do it to the letter and there won't be any in-game management from senior pros. I think they'd like to see more of that. The manager is backing the players, what can you do?

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou believes Mohamed Salah's impact wouldn't be as great if he were part of the Spurs team, due to the side's injury woes.

Listen to what he had to say below.

Could you imagine!

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Around 1,400 tickets are being sold on a third party website for Tottenham's Carabao Cup semi-final match at home to Liverpool tonight.

Those tickets cannot be controlled by Spurs but are being marketed to both home and away fans ahead of tonight's match.

It follows concerns raised by Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust (THST), the club's most influential fan group, about the issue of rival fans sitting in the home end at recent matches - particularly against both Manchester United and Liverpool in December.

With Liverpool again coming to North London, there are concerns of a repeat situation.

THST also said in a recent statement that these kinds of ticketing issues explain the declining atmosphere at home games this season.

It's been a blast, but we'll be closing the live down fairly soon.

Just before that though, let's build up to tonight's EFL Cup semi-final first leg between Tottenham and Liverpool.