West Ham United

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Manchester United at London Stadium (kick-off 20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The Hammers boss revealed that some players will "unfortunately" not be available for selection, but added: "I'm not going to tell you who."

• On Mads Hermansen starting over the weekend: "The goalkeeping situation is a special one inside of the group. We decided to put Mads in [against Burnley] and he did a good job. They [Hermansen and Alphonse Areloa] are helping each other and everyone wants to make decisions for the best of the team."

• He added: "I have been there. As you know, I was a goalkeeper - sometimes I played, sometimes I didn't. They're all there to help each other, and this what's happening in our small group of goalkeepers - realising that the one who plays, needs the one who doesn't to make him better."

• On the impact of defender Axel Diassi: "He did really well for someone who had one week with us. He was very aware of the needs of the team. He's integrated really well in terms of how we have played and how he's interacted with the team, creating bonds."

• He said that West Ham fans' support has "been amazing and very supportive", adding: "Let's try to get this energy tomorrow because we need them."

• On Crysencio Summerville: "He's doing great - he's doing really, really good. But we always want more, and we want consistency."

• He added: "We want these actions to happen in all the games. He's in a good moment. He's scoring and assisting but we need all our front players to have this confidence to help the team."

• On West Ham's new-found attacking threat: "We have been able to put more bodies in the box. We are achieving better combinations in the final third and we have been scoring. The players that have come in have been giving a big boost to help the team."

• He added: "To score you have to get it in the box and shoot. We dare our players to try things and challenge themselves - because with risk comes rewards."

• On Manchester United under interim boss Michael Carrick: "They're in a good moment. You can see the players are going to be confident and it's going to be tough. They have a lot of talented players."

• On the threat of Bruno Fernandes: "We look at many things for Manchester United, but Bruno Fernandes is definitely one we need to look out for. He's a fantastic player and I have a big admiration for Bruno."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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The topics of West Ham's ability to survive in the Premier League and whether Nuno Espirito Santo will stay in charge if they do end up getting relegated have been the subject of several questions send in via our 'Ask about West Ham' form.

Three wins out of four – and the only defeat coming in a game they probably should have won against Chelsea - certainly creates the impression West Ham can get out of the mess they have put themselves in.

However, there is still a lot of work to do. For a start, they have played Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Burnley twice, and don't meet Wolves until April or Leeds United until the final day of the season, so their form will have to continue against the better sides.

If they can reach the March international break no more than three points adrift, I think they will do it.

But they have both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Aston Villa to play before then – so I suspect Taty Castellanos will need to keep scoring.

As for Nuno, he did bring Wolves up from the Championship, so it wouldn't entirely be alien territory. But I wonder if the trauma of relegation for the first time since 2011 might trigger a complete reset at London Stadium.

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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "West Ham have been outstanding. Credit to them and Nuno Espirito Santo. Crysencio Summerville has been the catalyst - he looks a real threat.

"They brought in Axel Disasi and if you ask him to just defend, not complicate it and play out from the back, he'll be a really good signing. Adama Traore can cause problems when players are tired in the last half an hour. So they have brought in some experience and given themselves a fighting chance.

"They have a hard game this week but will be full of confidence. I think it will go down to the wire, but they have given themselves a fighting chance."

Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards added: "Taty Castellanos has personality and that dressing room needed it. It had been drifting at West Ham for a long time, ever since David Moyes was replaced.

"I have described then as a zombie club. They exist, at the moment, just to avoid relegation - but, ultimately, that is a prize worth fighting for as if they go down it is potentially catastrophic for them. They have speculated to hopefully accumulate. They are still in trouble but are picking up.

"West Ham just seem to have that little bit more momentum at the moment than Nottingham Forest. It will make the teams above them very nervous."

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Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

For the first time since before Christmas, just three points will separate the teams in 17th and 18th at the end of a Premier League weekend.

West Ham's 2-0 victory at Burnley has at last dragged them to within touching distance of Nottingham Forest again, with the Hammers enjoying a mid-season renaissance by winning three of their past four matches.

While Wolves are not mathematically down yet, they are propping up the table on a meagre eight points from 25 matches and sports analytics and data experts Opta rank their chances of relegation as 99.99%.

That also effectively means the West Midlands club are in a scrap to avoid the unwanted record of winning the fewest points in a single Premier League campaign, currently held by Derby, who managed just 11 in 2007-08.

Meanwhile, Burnley's loss to the Hammers means there is a 99.4% chance they will spend next term in the second tier of English football.

Hammers boss Nuno said his side "are still in the same situation" and called on them to "focus on" themselves after winning in Lancashire.

But are they?

Having gone 10 Premier League matches without a win, West Ham appear to have built some momentum from Callum Wilson's dramatic late goal at Tottenham on 17 January.

And they will feel they can tackle their remaining 13 games with renewed optimism despite being ranked with a 75.77% chance of going down, with Nuno also having the experience of guiding Nottingham Forest to safety on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign.

"West Ham look more like a Nuno team over the last few weeks," said former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy, who is a pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day.

"They have won three out of four and have all the momentum. Crysencio Summerville is playing out of his skin and Jarrod Bowen is always going to chip in, plus they've signed two strikers.

"All of a sudden they look like a team that can score goals and that means you don't have to rely so heavily on keeping them out the other end.

"However, you'd always rather have the points in the bag than doing the chasing as you can't have many slip-ups - you have to keep on getting points."

Read more on the relegation battle

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Burnley and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

James: Just when you think it cannot get any worse. If this level of performance is considered by Scott Parker to be just a little off, Burnley fans should take up gardening for the rest of the season, rather than endure more of this. When will the Burnley board grow some and get rid of the deadwood, starting with Parker?

Alan: Pointless. Other than to fulfill fixtures, this team, including management, do not belong in the Premier League. They are simply not good enough at all levels. Unfortunately, they are looking so demoralised that they don't look good enough for the Championship either. Have a clearout now, bring in fresh management who can instil some pride in the shirt, and prepare for next season.

Jeff: Another performance where you really have to wonder how bad it has to be for the board to sack the manager. But the board and the recruitment process needs to be questioned. Making signings that have never played in England (other than Kyle Walker as a outfield player), never mind the Premier League - like they did with Vincent Kompany. Two seasons now in the Premier League with the same result.

Neil: Same old story - week in, week out. A must-win game needed strength up front - but just one striker (albeit a makeshift one) starting said it all, and that's no disrespect to Zian Flemming. The defence, once again, gifted the goals and it was always uphill after that. Promising early pressure in the second half gave us some hope, but it soon fizzled out and we were well beaten. We don't need the boo boys calling for Parker out and knocking the players. If you're not happy, stay home and leave the die-hard fans to give their support.

West Ham fans

James: That was a vital three points. Form is picking up now and rivals must be looking over their shoulders. Let's not get too carried away as there is a way to go yet, but if Crysencio Summerville can keep popping up with goals there is certainly cause for optimism. A real captain's performance from Jarrod Bowen again.

Jimmy: Much like last week, an excellent first half and two very good goals, but this week was also a more disciplined second-half performance. Maybe, just maybe, Nuno Espirito Santo has at long last realised that bringing on a third centre-half isn't the answer when you're winning the game, and this week he made the substitutions he should have made last week - which I'm sure had he done so, we would have left Stamford Bridge with at least one point, if not all three.

Pete: Nuno deserves credit for his team selection and his substitutions after criticism in previous matches. Matheus Fernandes is growing in stature with every game and could be the first player to fill the hole left by Declan Rice. All of West Ham's players look up for the fight, which wasn't the case a few weeks ago. It won't be easy, but if we can show this character every game, we might just stay up.

Tim: Massive three points for the Irons after the disappointment of last weekend. Pleased for Taty Castellanos, who looks a good signing.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland

• Newcastle 2-3 Brentford

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Having gone 10 Premier League matches without a win, West Ham finally appear to have built some momentum from Callum Wilson's dramatic late goal at Tottenham on 17 January.

They have now collected nine points from the last 12 available and can tackle their remaining 13 games with renewed hope and optimism.

Nuno's side are certainly in better form than Tottenham and Crystal Palace, who are six points better off than them, while Nottingham Forest are well within their sights.

On Saturday, it clearly felt like there was gulf in class between the Hammers and the side directly below them in the table.

French defender Axel Disasi - a deadline-day arrival on loan from Chelsea - provided a steadying influence in defence on his first top-flight start since 8 March, 2025 during a temporary spell at Aston Villa.

That helped the visitors end a 21-game run without a clean sheet, while Burnley failed to get to grips further forward with Mateus Fernandes, who controlled midfield and enjoyed more touches than any other player.

Four of those crucially came when he laid on the opening goal for Crysencio Summerville, whose pace caused Clarets full-back Kyle Walker problems all afternoon.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was important to react from the previous match and the boys did fantastic work today. We were solid and strong in our box.

"We are still in the same situation we have to focus on ourselves. We have to try and get this energy to London Stadium. Our fans were helping the team it was so nice to see."

On Crysencio Summerville: "He is playing amazing, not only the work he does scoring and assisting but also the way he moves on the pitch, helps the defence. He is in a nice moment."

Did you know?

• West Ham have won three of their last four Premier League games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 21 (D5 L13).

• Crysencio Summerville became the first player to score in five consecutive appearances for West Ham in all competitions since Jesse Lingard in March/April 2021.

• The Hammers kept their first Premier League clean sheet since a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest in August, ending a run of 21 games in which they'd conceded at least once.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Esteve, Humphreys, Walker, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Flemming Pires, Edwards, Anthony, Mejbri.

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Broja, Laurent, Barnes.

West Ham XI: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Wilson, Castellanos.

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Traore, Pablo Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Burnley v West Ham

• Fulham v Everton

• Wolves v Chelsea

• Newcastle v Brentford (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: I think Burnley are down but this is their chance to prove me wrong.

They need it to be - they are at home, against a team one place above them in the table, so this is their big chance to end their long wait for a win.

I just don't see it happening for the Clarets, though.

I am not sure which West Ham side will turn up, but they have shown some improvement recently, especially in attack.

I don't think the Hammers will keep a clean sheet because they have had only one all season - the fewest by any top-flight team - but I don't see Burnley beating them.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Apollo's prediction: 2-1

AI's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Burnley welcome West Ham United to Turf Moor on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in a match of huge importance in the battle to avoid relegation.

Desperate times for Burnley

Fifteen matches without a league win, 11 points from safety and just 14 games remaining. Things are getting desperate for Burnley as they head into a six-pointer with fellow strugglers West Ham.

Monday night's dismal defeat at Sunderland left Scott Parker raging, with the Clarets boss saying they "fell short in terms of a lack of intent in everything we did at times".

One of Parker's biggest concerns is that it is not just at one end of the pitch that they are struggling, it's at both.

Burnley are now responsible for four of the 12 occasions that a team has failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game this season.

While Martin Dubravka may have made the most saves in the top flight this campaign with 97, he's also conceded more goals than any other goalkeeper with 47.

The loss at the Stadium of Light means they are now just two defeats short of equalling their longest winless run within the same top-flight season of 17, set way back in 1889-90.

They are yet to find the magic formula of how to bridge the gap between the second tier and the top one. Across 100 Premier League games in 2021-22, 2023-24 and this campaign so far, they have won just 15 games and lost 56. That contrasts with 57 wins and just five defeats in 92 Championship matches across 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Hammers ruing Chelsea defeat

West Ham are still licking their wounds after letting a two-goal lead slip to lose against Chelsea. If they had held on for a win it would have been their fourth on the spin in all competitions and would have put the Hammers just three points from safety.

Instead, it marked the seventh time that they've failed to win after opening the scoring this season (D3, L4), while they've also dropped the joint-most amount of points from winning positions in the top flight.

It was also the 21st consecutive league game in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet, the longest such run in Europe's top five leagues.

One source of comfort to Hammers' fans is their excellent recent record against Burnley that has seen them pick up four wins and three draws in their last seven league encounters.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be targeting another fast start at Turf Moor. They have scored eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games, while opponents Burnley have let in six goals in the opening 10 minutes - both of which are top-flight highs.

Having already lost to Sunderland and Leeds this season, the east Londoners are aiming to avoid losing to all three promoted clubs in a single campaign for the first time since 2009-10. That included a 2-1 defeat away to Burnley.

Before this game kicks off, all eyes will be on Friday's night's clash between 16th-place Leeds United and 17th-place Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Satuday's Premier League game against Burnley at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "There are some problems that we have to monitor, players that we need to see carefully but apart from JC [Jean-Clair Todibo] because of the red card, everyone else is available. Hopefully."

• On new loan signing Axel Disasi: "I think he's been working and physically he's in a good place. Of course, now he has to get in of the team, but I think he can help us, he's a strong defender and good on the ball."

• However Disasi's readiness following a lack of game time at Chelsea will be assessed on Friday according to the Hammers boss.

• On not replacing Lucas Paqueta: "The situation with Lucas that happened was something that was difficult, everybody is aware. In the end everybody looked for a better solution but we have to realise that you can have targets, and those targets are at other clubs and it's not just what you want but what the other clubs do also."

• Nuno said the Janurary recruits knew what they have signed up for: "You have to be brave to join a club in this situation and they have shown a commitment and purpose to come and help. I'm positively aware that they understand the fight we are involved in."

• Do they feel the superior team against Burnley, who are winless in 15 games? "No we never feel this because we know it's always going to be tough. Burnley are a good team, fighting for the same objective as us, and it's their home ground."

• He added: "We played them here at London Stadium at the beginning of November, and it was very, very hard. The message of Scott Parker and Kyle Walker at the end of that was that they're going to react, and we have to be ready for that."

• On the importance of this game: "There's a lot of football to be played but this is a very important game. This game means a lot us, especially reacting to what happened with Chelsea."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

West Ham had agreed a £27m deal for Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah, 26, in the transfer window before an injury to the player ended the move. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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West Ham fan Holly Turbutt says the club's January transfer window was "not as inspiring as hoped" and they "left it late" to bring in defensive reinforcements.

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external

West Ham can dismiss head coach Nuno Espirito Santo without paying compensation if they are relegated to the Championship. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on West Ham's new loanee Axel Disasi and whether he will improve the Hammers' defence.

Here are some of your comments:

Bob: His lack of playing time doesn't inspire me with confidence, but something needs to change at the back. I suppose desperate times require desperate measures!

Kelly: A good signing in theory, but can we expect miracles without Premier League game time recently? Our transfer policy is conducted like a game of whack-a-mole rather than a game of chess!

Andy: The chap couldn't get a game with Chelsea despite their squad rotation policy. Hasn't played a first-team game since April and, by all accounts, struggled in the under-21s. I can't see how this is going to help West Ham get out of the mess we are in. Our squad is thin - at best - where defensive options are concerned and not exactly top quality. That is what we are missing - quality. This doesn't solve a thing. No offence to the young man but I can't see how this loan provides us with comfort, quality or confidence at all.

Mick: If he is fit enough then he will be worth it, but the fact he has had so little game time worries me. I hope he comes good because he's a class defender.

Dave: He hasn't had many match minutes for a long spell, so he should be highly motivated to show what he can do. Time for Nuno Espirito Santo to drop his illogical admiration for the liability that is Max Kilman.

Matt: West Ham are obsessed with signing rejects and stand-ins, especially from Chelsea and relegated teams. Occasionally we get lucky and somebody turns out better than expected. We're in a beggar's choice position now, but we're here because we rarely sign players of real quality who aren't desperate to leave their clubs. Ironically, the last time we did it was Kilman and he's turned out to be far less good than he should be.

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

From the moment Joao Pedro pulled a goal back just before the hour mark, there was an air of inevitability about West Ham's 3-2 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.

The second-half capitulation at Stamford Bridge was the Hammers' 21st consecutive league game without a clean sheet – the joint worst record in Europe's top five leagues.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side led 2-0 at half-time but all of their good work in the opening period was undone by another feeble defensive showing after the break.

The Irons moved to address that problem on transfer deadline day with the signing of France international centre-back Axel Disasi, who joins on loan from Saturday's opponents Chelsea.

Given that he hasn't played a senior game this season, Disasi doesn't feel like an entirely convincing solution to the well-documented defensive woes at London Stadium.

The 27-year-old's last appearance in a Chelsea shirt came on 20 January 2025 before he was demoted to the Blues' so-called 'bomb squad' under Enzo Maresca. A loan spell at Aston Villa followed, during which he played 10 times.

Crucially, for a club involved in a relegation battle, Disasi has less Premier League experience than West Ham's existing central defensive options of Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo, who will be suspended for at least three matches after his stoppage-time red card for violent conduct on Saturday.

There is evidence Disasi is better on the ball than that trio - although the data may be skewed from playing in better teams - but what the Hammers desperately need is steel and organisation to mend the league's worst defence.

That's not to say the Frenchman, who came on as an extra-time substitute in the 2022 World Cup final, can't provide those qualities and fulfil the promise he showed at Reims and Monaco; talent that convinced Chelsea to shell out £38.5m for him in August 2023.

So, over to you... how happy are you with the signing of Disasi? Will he improve the Hammers' defence and help keep Nuno's side up?

Get in touch with your views here