Ruben Amorim has criticised Manchester United’s second-half performance and the build-up to West Ham’s leveller after his side missed out on fifth spot in the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at home to the relegation-threatened hammers.
Diogo Dalot’s strike from inside the box put United ahead in the 58th minute, but Soungoutou Magassa fired in his first West Ham goal with seven minutes remaining to leave the Red Devils eighth and winless in two home matches.
“We tried to defend far from the goal all the time, because we knew they wanted to make crosses, get a corner and [strike] lucky,” said Amorim, analysing the equaliser.
“We should be better with the ball”
Ruben Amorim reacts after Manchester United drop points at home to West Ham 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/el6V3NGfRA
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
“It happened – it was a long ball, they win a second ball against three guys of ours. We cannot let a team that is so much taller than us have a corner when the ball [came from] the goalkeeper.
“Those kinds of details make the difference. A corner in the second half made the difference.”
Manchester United vs West Ham: Amorim rues result
United had the better of the game against their third-bottom opponents and hit a post through Bruno Fernandes’s first-half shot, but the 20-time champions have won six of their first 15 games of the season in all competitions and drawn three and won one of their last five matches.
“I’m frustrated and angry,” said Amorim. “That’s it. It’s about working again and trying to win the next one.
Soungoutou Magassa levels for West Ham at Old Trafford! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/dVPNetKaS1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
“There have been second halves when we’ve lost control of the game. Today, that was not the case. After the first goal, we lost some second balls.
“We need to be better in second halves. Everyone has the feeling that we need to score more goals [to make games comfortable]. We are inconsistent and we need to improve.”
United are next in action away to Wolves on Monday (20:00 GMT), a day after West Ham visit Brighton & Hove Albion (14:00).
You can also relive 101GreatGoals.com’s text updates and stats from Man United vs West Ham in the Premier League here.
Diogo Dalot reacts quickest to open the scoring for Manchester United 💥 pic.twitter.com/vJw5uT9wg4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
Manchester United team vs West Ham
United made three changes, bringing in Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Matheus Cunha, who returned from injury.
Defenders Matthijs de Ligt – ruled out by a minor injury – and Leny Yoro and midfielder Mason Mount made way.
Defender Harry Maguire and striker Benjamin Sesko were unavailable with injuries sustained against Spurs on November 8.
Manchester United starting XI: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo, Joshua Zirkzee, Matheus Cunha
Man United substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Shea Lacey
“The attacking options – they brought the levels down” 😬
Roy Keane feels that Manchester United don’t have enough strength in depth 🔄 pic.twitter.com/CyOC2zuxhp
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
West Ham team vs Manchester United
West Ham made an enforced alteration with Lucas Paqueta suspended after being sent off against the Reds, so Tomas Soucek joined their midfield.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, defender Igor Julio, midfielder Oliver Scarles, wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme and forward Niclas Fullkrug were injured.
West Ham starting XI: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Jarrod Bowen, Soungoutou Magassa, Tomas Soucek, Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes, Callum Wilson
West Ham substitutes: Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Maximilian Kilman, Guido Rodriguez, Andy Irving, George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Mohamadou Kante, Ezra Mayers
[Man] Utd give these teams a lot of hope now”
Roy Keane says Manchester United are too easy to play against 😬 pic.twitter.com/9l7wx5G5la
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
Manchester United v West Ham stats
- United are unbeaten in their last 18 top-flight outings played on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, although their run of eight wins in such games came to an end
- They finished on an expected goals tally of 1.56 to West Ham’s 0.77
- Bruno Fernandes created at least five chances in a match for the first time since United’s 3-2 home win over Burnley on August 30
- West Ham have lost two of their 14 Premier League fixtures staged on a Thursday
- The Hammers won this fixture 2-0 last season, ending a 16-game winless run away to United in the Premier League
- They had beaten United in four of their past five Premier League meetings between the teams
- Captain Jarrod Bowen had been on the scoresheet in three of those five games, including in both encounters last season, but failed to become the first player to score in three in a row against United for West Ham since Jermain Defoe between 2001 and 2002
“We should be proud of the work” 👏
Nuno Espirito Santo reacts to his West Ham side’s draw with Manchester United 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/PHbyc0SdKr
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 4, 2025
Premier League fixtures this weekend
All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT unless stated otherwise.
Saturday, December 6
Aston Villa vs Arsenal (12:30)
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Newcastle vs Burnley
Tottenham vs Brentford
Leeds vs Liverpool (17:30)
Sunday, December 7
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham (14:00)
Fulham vs Crystal Palace (16:30)
Monday, December 8
Wolves vs Manchester United (20:00)
