West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa: Another opening day defeatpublished at 21:08 17 August
21:08 17 August
Marissa Thomas BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Julen Lopetegui lost his first Premier League game as West Ham manager
West Ham began their Premier League campaign with defeat at the London Stadium in manager Julen Lopetegui's first game in charge.
The Hammers have now lost their opening Premier League fixture 16 times, more than any other side.
They got off to the worst possible start against Aston Villa, conceding just four minutes in when Amadou Onana rose highest after being unmarked from a corner.
West Ham were punished for defensive frailties last season when they conceded 74 league goals, the most ever by a side to end in the top half, and the Hammers’ highest total since 1967.
Having got back into the game in the first half through Lucas Paqueta's penalty, they were then stung late on by Jhon Duran's finish as Villa sealed a well-earned three points.
Conceding preventable goals is a bad habit they will have to break as they go deeper into the campaign under Lopetegui.
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa: What Lopetegui saidpublished at 20:13 17 August
20:13 17 August
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Julen Lopetegui spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after West Ham's defeat to Aston Villa: "We took some good chances and we deserved to win.
"I think that is football and sometimes these chances go in and sometimes not. We kept creating chances and pushing. We are very happy.
"The substitutes made a massive difference. I think we had a bit of a dip at that point and the manager made the changes at the right time. The three off them combined for that goal. We have some great players and we are ready to perform."
On season ambitions: "We will have to wait and see because it is only the first game. We have a lot of ambition and we want to build on that. We want to be the best we can be."
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa: Send us your thoughtspublished at 19:26 17 August
Sutton's predictions: West Ham v Aston Villapublished at 11:16 17 August
11:16 17 August
A new season, and a new challenge for BBC Sport's prediction expert Chris Sutton.
Sutton faced off against a guest for each of the 38 game weeks in 2023-24 and triumphed 21-10 (with seven draws) to secure his second predictions title in a row.
He will have a guest each week this time too, but now you can find out if you can do any better.
Sutton's opponent for the opening round of games is The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
I like what West Ham have done in the transfer market this summer and I am really excited about seeing Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug in the Premier League.
Fullkrug is an old-fashioned, throwback type of striker but he can finish.
Style-wise, the Hammers will be back to the 'West Ham way' under new boss Julen Lopetegui, which is what their fans wanted. Expectations are high so let's see how they get on.
For Aston Villa, the question is whether they can hit the heights of last season again.
It is going to be difficult for them to combine a top-four challenge with Champions League football once that gets started, and there might be some bumps in the road.
This is a difficult one to call because there are reasons to back both teams, so I am going to go with a draw.
Liam's prediction: 1-2
I like watching Villa - I think John McGinn is brilliant - but both of these teams are going to have good seasons.
Lopetegui on Wan-Bissaka, Bowen captaincy and the need to dreampublished at 15:07 15 August
15:07 15 August
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Lopetegui confirmed West Ham "don't have bad news about the injuries" but feels he has to be aware of the varied preparations some of his players have had, adding: "Some are ready more than others".
The manager said a decision would be made on Friday over new signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka's availability, but they are "happy with him" and that "all of the new signs are going to improve our level".
The Hammers boss added: "Competition is very important for us. He is a player we like that will help us to improve and add a lot of things to our team. All the players that came and others that are here, the focus is always on the team. He is very happy to be here. He has a good age, very mature and has experience."
On Kurt Zouma's future: "Kurt is a fantastic person and very good player and he is going to choose his future and we will wait. True, he is talking with other teams right now so we will see what happens. We have big respect for him."
On his first Premier League game in charge: "We are very excited about this first match, knowing the difficult team we are going to face. But we have a big ambition to play in front of our fans knowing we are all working the pre-season for this moment. Our focus is knowing their quality, but I believe in us and us being ready for this big challenge."
He feels the "extra energy" from the fans is important and that they still "support in the bad moments we will have in this match".
On Jarrod Bowen's selection as club captain: "He is a respected player, he is a national team player, he has the commitment with the club to become the next captain. We are all going to help him. He is happy to double up his responsibility because as captain, he doesn’t have any privilege, but he has a big responsibility and everyone will help him with his work."
On targets for the season: "I don't put limits on our dreams. We have to dream but the only way to achieve them is to work. We can talk about ambition but our ambition is to train here everyday, to put on our best and be better."
West Ham v Aston Villa - did you know?published at 11:53 15 August
11:53 15 August
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West Ham have won their opening Premier League match in just one of the past eight seasons (drawn one, lost six), beating Newcastle 4-2 in 2021-22.
The Hammers have lost their opening game in the Premier League more often than any other side (15).
'I don't see it as weighing heavy' - Bowen named captainpublished at 09:30 15 August
09:30 15 August
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Jarrod Bowen has said being named captain of West Ham gives him "another opportunity to represent the club with honour and pride".
The England international forward, 27, joined the Hammers in January 2020 and scored the winning goal in their Europa Conference League final victory in 2023.
He will follow in the footsteps of legendary previous captains of the club, including Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Mark Noble.
"I don't see it as weighing heavy - I see it as another opportunity to represent this club with honour and pride," he said in a video posted on West Ham's social media channels.
"Those names will be remembered forever by West Ham fans and I'm not there yet, but I want to keeping working my way to get to there.
"I've said that I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life and I still haven't come off that page. If I can go down as a legend here in years to come, that would be great."
Long-serving full-back Aaron Cresswell has been named as vice-captain.
Phil McNulty's predictions - West Hampublished at 09:01 15 August
09:01 15 August
It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.
West Ham United - eighth
Julen Lopetegui has replaced David Moyes, whose full worth to West Ham United may yet become clear in the months ahead, and not just because he won the Europa Conference League.
Lopetegui has been keen to return to the Premier League since leaving Wolves and he now has the squad to prove his worth, backed by good transfer business in the summer.
West Ham already had plenty of class with Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, but they have added to that with the signings of Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United and Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund. The powerful Germany striker looks a perfect Premier League fit.
Lopetegui has also been reunited with former Wolves captain Max Kilman, who will play alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at the heart of defence, a signing regarded as a real coup.
Prospects look good for the Hammers, if Lopetegui can piece it all together. They are a good bet for a cup.
Does Wan-Bissaka improve West Ham?published at 12:00 14 August
12:00 14 August
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the latest addition to Julen Lopetegui's West Ham revolution, signing from Manchester United for £15m.
The 26-year-old right-back is the Hammers' eighth addition this summer with a total surpassing £120m - and that does not include the £34m they are obliged to pay Nice next summer to make Jean-Clair Todibo's loan permanent.
From an objective standpoint, £15m for a player who made 236 appearances for United over five seasons - including 16 in the Champions League - and won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup does seem a bargain.
That's the view of former Derby defender Curtis Davies on Wednesday's Football Daily podcast.
According to FBRef, Wan-Bissaka's 2.07 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League last season was higher than every West Ham player to have played a full match and his 73.1% of dribblers tackled places him just behind central defenders Angelo Ogbonna and Konstantinos Mavrapanos.
The man he will replace in Lopetegui's defence is probably 31-year-old Vladimir Coufal. Comparing the past three seasons for both players, Wan-Bissaka leads Coufal in tackles won (1.81 to 1.02), shots blocked (0.70 to 0.37) and percentage of dribblers tackled (70% to 50%).
It is this one-on-one defending that endeared Wan-Bissake to United supporters, his 2020 Champions League performance keeping Neymar and Kylian Mbappe quiet against Paris St-Germain a particular highlight.
His versatility is another strength, with Stretford Paddock's Jay Motty describing him as "defensively one of the best in the world" after featuring as a left-back in March's dramatic FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool.
However, there are questions over his suitability for a progressive, possession-based style of play under Lopetegui. Two goals and 10 assists in 130 league games at Old Trafford does not scream attacking output, with BBC pundit and former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin once commenting: "He can't cross a ball, external".
From an attacking perspective, Coufal outranks Wan-Bissaka per 90 in crosses (4.37 to 1.76), progressive passes (4.61 to 3.07) and goal-creating actions (0.29 to 0.05). Coufal is primarily known for his solidity and physicality yet his touches in the attacking third per 90 at 22 is higher than Wan-Bissaka at 18.4.
Now it is Lopetegui's job to find a system that allows Wan-Bissaka to exhibit his defensive strength and manages his limitations going forward.
£15m 'is a bargain'published at 12:00 14 August
12:00 14 August
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West Ham's £15m signing of Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a "bargain", former Derby defender Curtis Davies has said.
Wan-Bissaka signed a seven-year deal with the Hammers on Tuesday.
"They're making a statement as they've signed a lot of good players," ex-Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Whether they gel is another matter," .
"David Moyes finished where he did and they're going to do well to repeat that, but it is a statement of intent."
West Ham have also added centre-backs Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman to their squad during the summer and Davies said of their defence: "It's going to be new-look with a new manager and a new way of doing things.
"For Wan-Bissaka £15m, in my opinion, is a bargain. Manchester United paid £50m for him and he's still only 26 years old."
Former Wycombe left-back Joe Jacobson added: "He's up there with the best I've seen at one-on-one defending. He's always been a kind of scapegoat at United and fans never quite took to him. On the ball, United have this entitlement of how they want their players to be and he hasn't quite fitted into it.
"He's at a great age to cement himself in the first team of a solid Premier League team and restart his career."
When is the Carabao Cup second-round draw?published at 11:54 14 August
11:54 14 August
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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the first-round tie between Leeds United and Middlesbrough.
Thirteen Premier League clubs will enter in the second round, as will Luton Town and Burnley, who were relegated from the top flight in 18th and 19th positions last season.
The draw for round two will be regionalised into northern and southern sections.
The seven Premier League clubs playing in European competitions in 2024-25, including Carabao Cup holders Liverpool, will come in at the third-round stage.
The key dates for the competition are as follows:
Second round - w/c 26 August
Third round - w/c 16 and w/c 23 September
Fourth round - w/c 28 October
Quarter-finals - w/c 16 December
Semi-finals - w/c 6 January (first leg) and w/c 3 February
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