Fulham's Calvin Bassey vies for the ball with Burnley's Zeki Amdouni, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage stadium in London, Dec. 23, 2023.Alastair Grant/The Associated Press
Yet another defeat handed Manchester United its worst losing run at this point in England’s top-flight since 1930 on Saturday.
A 2-0 loss at West Ham on Saturday was United’s eighth in the Premier League and 13th in all competitions.
Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in the 72nd and 78th minutes at London Stadium propelled West Ham while United’s run without a goal was extended to four games.
“That’s not good enough for our standards,” underfire manager Erik Ten Hag said.
Ten Hag has faced speculation about his position for weeks, and former Chelsea manager Graham Potter is reportedly a contender to replace him if he is fired. Ten Hag said recently he has the backing of the club hierarchy but that will surely diminish if the losses keep mounting.
United won the League Cup and qualified for the Champions League in Ten Hag’s first year in charge, but he has struggled to build on that success this term. His team was eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage and exited early from the League Cup.
Defeat at West Ham left United eight points off fourth-placed Tottenham, which beat Everton 2-1.
Ten Hag pointed to an extensive injury list as a factor behind his team’s worrying form.
“First of all, we need returning the players,” he said. “We are quite thin in this moment in the squad. But I have to say the players who were on the pitch, also young players, they had very good performances. But, yeah, it’s of course the experienced players bring us to higher levels.”
TOTTENHAM RUN
Tottenham looks to be over its recent slump and heads into Christmas above defending champion Manchester City after beating Everton 2-1.
The early season leader tumbled on the table after a slew of injuries and a damaging run of four defeats in five, with only a draw at City breaking that losing sequence. But three straight wins have moved Spurs up to fourth.
Goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min gave them a 2-0 lead after 18 minutes. Andre Gomes scored for Everton in the 82nd, but the visitors’ recent run of four straight league wins came to an end.
LOCKYER TRIBUTES
Luton players and fans and visiting Newcastle paid tribute to Tom Lockyer as the captain recovers from an on-field cardiac arrest last week.
Lockyer had a defibrillator fitted and is recovering at home after being discharged from hospital following his collapse during the abandoned game against Bournemouth.
In his absence, Luton boosted its chances of avoiding relegation by defeating Newcastle 1-0 at Kenilworth Road.
Andros Townsend scored and held up Lockyer’s shirt in celebration. Luton and Newcastle fans also paid tribute to the Wales international.
NUNO LOSES
New Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo suffered a cruel defeat in his first game in charge of the relegation-battling club.
A Dominic Solanke hat trick secured a 3-2 win for Bournemouth with the deciding goal coming in the fourth minute of added time.
Willy Boly’s red card in the 23rd minute reduced Forest to 10 men but Anthony Elanga gave them the opening goal two minutes into the second half. Solanke struck back twice in seven minutes to put Bournemouth ahead.
Chris Wood looked to have secured a point with his headed equalizer in the 74th but Solanke completed his hat trick in stoppage time.
BURNLEY RISE
Burnley moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 win at Fulham.
Goals from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge saw Vincent Kompany’s team win for the third time and overtake Sheffield United, which earned an unexpected 1-1 draw at high-flying Aston Villa on Friday.
The Fulham-Burnley game was the first league game to be handled by a female referee, with Rebecca Welch officiating at Craven Cottage.