West Ham closed the gap on Arsenal and the Champions League places to just a point as they eased past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Last-gasp defeat for fourth-placed Arsenal earlier in the day had left the door open for the Hammers to make up ground on Mikel Arteta’s side, and Manuel Lanzini’s penalty in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time all but killing off Palace’s challenge.
They had started brightly, Jeffrey Schlupp hitting the post in the very first minute, but the visitors soon got into their stride and took the chances that Palace did not.
Vicente Guaita denied Michail Antonio from close range inside 10 minutes, he could not do so a second time after Said Benrahma’s perfectly bent delivery.
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English clubs once didn't trust sporting directors - now they've taken over the Premier League01 January, 2022Lanzini added West Ham’s second just three minutes later, seizing on a bouncing ball 12 yards out to fire the ball home and by the time Luka Milivojevic was adjudged by the VAR to have handled just inside the box, the game was well beyond them and Lanzini had a second from the spot.
Odsonne Edouard should have pulled one back before the break but could only hit the crossbar from 10 yards when the ball was pulled back to him.
Palace did eventually create a ray of hope, Edouard connecting with a Michael Olise cross in the 83rd minute, but it was far too little, too late – even when substitute Olise’s whipped free-kick then went all the way into the back of the net in the first minute of stoppage time.
West Ham player ratings
Lukas Fabianski – 7
Twice denied Benteke in the first half, once with his feet, once with his hands. Wasn’t often otherwise worked as Palace’s finishing left something to be desired.
Vladimir Coufal – 6.5
Fine first-time cross almost created opening goal for Antonio but did not see much of the ball as both sides
Craig Dawson – 7
Stood up to the predictable aerial assault and Benteke’s physicality well, but was let down by his central partner.
Issa Diop – 5
Was almost caught out in the first half as Palace started fast, then let Edouard get away from him far too easily to see his clean sheet bonus slip away and gave away a foul that cost his side a second goal in stoppage time.
Ben Johnson – 6.5
Caught out early on by the lively Schlupp who hit the post in the first minute when he probably should have scored, but got forward well. Got himself booked when caught in possession around halfway and was replaced at half-time with the Hammers well on top.
Declan Rice – 6.5
Incisive run opened up Palace midfield for second goal but did lose sight of Edouard when he made a late run into the box and hit the bar. His 150th Premier League appearance was not his best, but not his worst.
Tomas Soucek – 7
Crucial intervention just before half-time, pouncing on a loose ball as Benteke was preparing to lash it goalwards.
Jarrod Bowen – 6
Quiet game going forward as West Ham found much more virtue in attacking down the left-hand side. Will have better days.
Manuel Lanzini – 7.5
Wonderful skill to find snapshot on the volley 12 yards out to give West Ham a two-goal lead and then converted from the penalty spot
Said Benrahma – 7
Almost opened the scoring with a header and then an outstanding bending ball set up first goal. Faded a little and was replaced after 71 minutes.
Michail Antonio – 8
Forced a super save from Guaita in the 14th minute but eight minutes later could not be denied from close range. Might have had another, a regular threat. Becoming a really complete No 9.
Substitutes
Arthur Masuaku – 6
Was given a working over by Jordan Ayew who got in behind him once but recovered from shaky start to get a handle on the Palace forward. Was then up against Olise and reminded Hammers fans why they are so uncomfortable with him playing in a back four.
Nikola Vlasic – 5
Sloppily stood off Olise whose cross found Edouard and gave Palace a way back into the game. Would have been bad if he had played 82 minutes, given he was fresh legs it was extremely poor.
Mark Noble – n/a
Lanzini’s goal was pure joy
Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney
“The volley is just exceptional and I think it’s one of them where it’s like five a side football, and it just kind of comes to you – and it’s joy.
“He’s confident and he has just gone for it. It was a brilliant goal really from one end right to the other – and what West Ham have been is really, really clinical and ruthless.”
Vieira: We were naive, they were not
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira cited the experience of the West Ham line-up as the reason his side were unable to convert more of their chances.
Palace outperformed their opponents on shots and expected goals (xG) but ended up with nothing to show for it, leaving Vieira to concede that “playing well is not good enough to win football matches”.
He added: “I’m really disappointed because I think today we were the better team. But the difference between the two sides is they’ve been building the team for a couple of years now and that is a mature team.
“So the experience of this team allowed them to win the game today. And at times, we were a little bit naive. We created chances where we were unlucky as well, because I think we had the best first chances in the game and we hit the post.
“We have to learn from those games, we have to improve.”
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