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  • Mar, Sat, 2020
Sport

English Premier League could be declared null and void, West Ham official warns  

Warning

London, March 14, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) West Ham United vice-chairman Karen Brady says hopes of re-starting the English Premier League in three weeks are “dreamland” and believes this season could be declared null and void.

England’s top-flight football league, like the rest of world sports, finds itself in unprecedented peace-time territory as it attempts to react to the coronavirus pandemic.

The outbreak has infected nearly 800 people so far in Britain.

The Premier League moved to shut down until at least April 4 on Friday, joining top leagues in Spain, Italy, Germany and France where fixtures have also been suspended.

With no certainty as to when things will return to normal, it has left the 20 clubs in limbo.

Liverpool are tantalisingly close to a first title in 30 years and several clubs —- including West Ham —– in the thick of a relegation battle.

“The Premier League hopes that an interlude of three weeks from today will enable it to restart but that may well be dreamland.

“There is no dodging the possibility that all levels in the English Football League (EFL), as well as the Premier League, will have to be cancelled and this season declared null and void.

“This is because, if the players can’t play, the games can’t go ahead,” Brady said in her column in The Sun.

Brady says cancelling the Euro 2020 championships could allow more time for the Premier League season to be completed.

West Ham, like most teams in the Premier League, have nine games remaining, which even if the suspension is limited to three weeks, presents a huge challenge.

This is because the season was originally scheduled to finish on May 17.

There are also FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches to factor in.

Premier League chiefs and the clubs will meet to discuss the options next week.

The options are not numerous, though.

Stopping the season and declaring the current standings as final would be hugely controversial.

While few would begrudge Liverpool a first title in 30 years —- they are 25 points ahead of their nearest rivals —- the relegation places are too close to call.

Six points separate bottom club Norwich City from West Ham who are in 16th spot, two places above the drop zone.

Likewise, nothing is yet decided in the second-tier English Championship’s promotion race.

“So, what if the league cannot be finished?

“As games in both the Premier League and English Football League are affected, the only fair and reasonable thing to do is declare the whole season null and void.

“Who knows who would have gone down or come up if the games have not actually been played in full?

“A huge blow to Liverpool who might be robbed of their first title in 30 years,” Brady says.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s chief executive Paul Barber said the decision to suspend the league was the only option.

“Our priority is to play out the remainder of the season, but we have to be realistic in that we do not know where this virus is heading,” he said.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Tue, 2020
Sport

Liverpool fight back against West Ham to continue winning streak

Streak

Liverpool (UK), Feb. 24, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool had to come from behind to beat lowly West Ham United and maintain their 100% home record with a battling 3-2 win on Monday.

It looked like business as usual for Liverpool, unbeaten in the league and with a 22-point advantage at the top, when they went ahead in the ninth minute as Georginio Wijnaldum headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s whipped cross from the right.

Three minutes later, though, 18th-placed West Ham drew level with Issa Diop’s angled header from a Robert Snodgrass corner beating keeper Alisson Becker, who should have kept it out.

Virgil Van Dijk headed against the bar for Liverpool but Anfield was stunned in the 54th when Hammers substitute Pablo Fornals turned a low cross from Declan Rice into the far corner.

Facing the possibility of their first defeat of the Premier League campaign, Liverpool inevitably piled on the pressure but their usually deadly frontline was misfiring.

Only an awful error from West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski that allowed Juergen Klopp’s side to get back on level terms.

Mohamed Salah’s tame shot from an Andy Robertson pull back creeping through the legs of the Polish keeper.

Fabianski was at fault again when he came off his line but failed to stop Alexander-Arnold looping the ball over him to Sadio Mane who slotted home.

Mane had the ball in the net again in the 86th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside after a swift VAR review.

Liverpool’s win ensured they equalled Manchester City’s record of 18 straight top-flight wins. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

  • Feb, Wed, 2020
Sport

Manchester City see off West Ham United as fans take aim at UEFA

EPL
Manchester (UK), Feb. 19, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester City showed no signs of letting their off-field problems distract them as they comfortably beat relegation-threatened West Ham United 2-0 in their re-arranged English Premier League (EPL) game on Wednesday.

Manchester City took the lead on the half hour from a well-worked corner kick routine, Rodri rising to meet Kevin De Bruyne delivery with a superbly-angled header at the near-post.

De Bruyne doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, squeezing in a right foot shot at Lukasz Fabianski’s near-post after a swift exchange with Bernardo Silva.

UEFA handed Manchester City a two-year ban from European football on Friday for serious breaches of their Financial Fair Play regulations.

The Premier League champions deny the charges and are appealing against the decision.

While manager Pep Guardiola deflected pre-game television questions about the issue, Manchester City fans had no such reticence.

They shouted chants aimed at UEFA, including one which ended with “we will see you in court”.

Manchester City are second in the league but are 22 points behind leaders Liverpool while West Ham remained in 18th position, deep in the relegation battle.

The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 9 but was postponed due to stormy weather. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Sheffield United go 7th after draw at West Ham

  1. Draw

London, Oct. 26, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Lys Mousset’s second goal in as many games earned Sheffield United a 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Saturday, with the point sending the newly-promoted side seventh in the Premier League.

Somewhat against the run of play, Robert Snodgrass slid the ball into the net after being picked out by Andriy Yarmalenko on the stroke of halftime to give the hosts the lead.

October has become something of a difficult month for West Ham in recent years.

The Hammers having not tasted victory in their last nine October Premier League matches prior to Saturday’s encounter at London Stadium.

That pressure seemed to get to West Ham as the visitors had chance after chance to equalise before Mousset sneaked the ball home from a tight angle in the 69th minute.

West Ham had plenty of opportunities to win but they could not find a way past Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

The result means the visitors are now unbeaten in their last three, with West Ham without a win in their last five games in all competitions. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Felix Ajide

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Sport

Haller double gives West Ham United 3-1 win over Watford

Haller double gives West Ham United 3-1 win over Watford

London, Aug. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Record signing Sebastien Haller scored a tap-in and a superb bicycle kick for West Ham as they beat Watford 3-1 in the Premier League at Vicarage Road on home this Saturday.

The defeat was the home side’s third straight league loss of the season.

On the 15th anniversary of his West Ham debut, Mark Noble put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.

Manuel Lanzini was crudely chopped down in the box by Abdoulaye Doucoure in the opening minute to earn the visitors the spot kick.

Andre Gray scored Watford’s first goal of the season to put the home side level in the 17th minute, latching on to a Will Hughes pass and lashing the ball home first time.

After a superb attacking display in the first half, Watford started the second period brightly but the wheels came off when Hughes missed from point-blank range after more good work by Gray.

That mistake was to prove costly in the 64th minute as Felipe Anderson got free down the left before angling a pass in to the feet of Haller.

The sign new man, who reportedly cost the Hammers 45 million pounds from Eintracht Frankfurt in July, fired home with ease.

The 23-year-old French striker sealed the Hammers’ first win of the season with an acrobatic overhead kick nine minutes later after Michail Antonio’s header was palmed on to the crossbar by Ben Foster. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Silas Nwoha

Sport

West Ham United inflict first defeat on Tottenham at new home

Defeat

London, April 27, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur suffered their first defeat at their new stadium after Michail Antonio gave West Ham United a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday.

Tottenham made a number of changes to their side as they prepared for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s gamble backfired against a resolute West Ham side.

Spurs dominated the first half and could have been ahead after 11 minutes when Son Heung-min was played through by Dele Alli but his shot from the left was too close to the near post of Lukasz Fabianski.

The Pole also did well to deny Christian Eriksen who shot from close range after good work down the right from Lucas Moura.

Tottenham were made to pay for those missed chances as West Ham took the lead after halftime.
A lofted cross from Marko Arnautovic in the 67th minute found Antonio who lashed it in past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs brought on Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen in the hope of getting an equaliser but could not find a way past.

They remain third but will be under pressure from their top-four rivals, while West Ham stay in 11th position. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Sport

Superb Hazard double hands Chelsea 2-0 win over West Ham

EPL
London, April 9, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Eden Hazard’s stunning individual performance earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Ham United which hoisted them into third spot in the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday.

The Belgian wizard tormented West Ham throughout at Stamford Bridge and scored both goals to move Chelsea above Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish.

Hazard danced through West Ham’s defence in the 24th minute to put Maurizio Sarri’s side in front, and Gonzalo Higuain should have buried the visitors before half-time.

West Ham improved after the break and Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson both had good chances to equalise, but Hazard sealed the points in the 90th minute with a clinical finish.

A third successive victory means Chelsea have 66 points from 33 games, while Tottenham and Arsenal have 64 and 63 points respectively having played a game less.

West Ham are 11th with 42 points from 33 games.(NAN)
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(Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

West Ham United leave it late to see off spirited Huddersfield Town

West Ham

London, March 16, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a late brace including a stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Huddersfield Town 4-3 in a roller-coaster Premier League clash on Saturday.

The Mexico international, whose diving header had made it 3-3 with six minutes left, nodded the ball in again from Felipe Anderson’s cross to send the London Stadium crowd into raptures.

“Javier played well in past games but he was maybe under pressure to score. Now he’s come off the bench and scored two,” West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC.

“I hate it when my team play bad. Winning or losing I want to play well. But winning is the important thing.

“Winning 4-3 and scoring three in the last 10 minutes is good for the team and the fans,” he said.

Defender Angelo Ogbonna had given the home side hope with a header from Aaron Cresswell’s corner after Huddersfield scored three goals in a league match for the first time this season.

The visitors got their goals through Karlan Grant’s double and a Juninho Bacuna strike.

Earlier, West Ham took the lead in the 15th minute through skipper Mark Noble who drilled his penalty past goalkeeper Jonas Lossl after midfielder Manuel Lanzini was brought down by teenager Aaron Rowe.

The visitors responded almost immediately with their first shot on target as an unmarked Bacuna rose well to meet fellow midfielder Aaron Mooy’s whipped corner with a powerful header.

Huddersfield went 2-1 up late in the first half with a well-worked free kick routine that led to Grant tucking in Chris Lowe’s low cross from the left.

Grant’s second was a powerful effort from distance in the second half.

A frustrated Grant explained how Huddersfield squandered the lead to lose their third match in a row.

“It’s a tough one to take, 3-1 up away from home… we have to do better from there. Don’t concede three when you’re 3-1 up, it’s that simple.

“Everyone’s gutted. I scored two, but we didn’t walk away with three points, that’s what hurts most.

“We have to play for pride at the moment. We’re in a tough place. We need to stick together and go again,” he said.

Huddersfield have lost 16 of their last 18 league matches to sit bottom of the table with 14 points from 31 games. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Maharazu Ahmed

Sport

Cardiff keep up fight against relegation with win over Hammers

Relegation
Cardiff (UK), March 9, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Relegation-threatened Cardiff City earned three vital points with a 2-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday, moving them within two points of 17th-placed Burnley.

Cardiff got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the fourth minute when Spaniard Victor Camarasa broke from midfield.

He freed Joseph Murphy whose low cross from the right was turned in at the near post by Junior Hoilett.

Neil Warnock’s side, who have just Fulham and Huddersfield below them, had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead in the first half against an out-of-sorts West Ham.

But they went in at the break with just a single goal advantage.

The Hammers, who had 70 percent possession, brought on Marko Arnautovic for a below-par Felipe Anderson at the interval as Manuel Pellegrini looked to add some life to his attack.

But seven minutes after the restart the decisive second came when Hoilett got past Ryan Fredericks and his cross was headed back across goal by Josh Murphy.

Camarasa turned it in from close range.

Cardiff, in 18th spot, moved to 28 points while Burnley, on 30 points, face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Aguero penalty gives Manchester City 1-0 win over West Ham United

Aguero

Manchester (UK), Feb. 27, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Sergio Aguero’s penalty gave champions Manchester City a 1-0 win over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay a point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Felipe Anderson was ruled to have brought down Bernardo Silva and Aguero coolly slotted home from the spot.

Former City manager Manuel Pellegrini set his West Ham team up to frustrate the hosts and they did an excellent job for most of the game.

The Hammers forced City into wide areas where they struggled to create openings.

City camped in the visitors’ half for the opening 45 minutes with David Silva going close to breaking the deadlock when he hit the post after an excellent low cross.

West Ham went close after the break when substitute Manuel Lanzini found Andy Carroll at the back post, but City keeper Ederson did well to parry the forward’s well-struck effort.

City boss Pep Guardiola promptly threw on Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva from the bench and they changed the tempo and flow of the game.

Second-placed City have 68 points while leaders Liverpool are on 69. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide