Moyes on the brink as Palace shatter West Ham’s European dream in 5-2 thrashing | OneFootball

West Ham United were absolutely torn apart by Crystal Palace in their Premier League clash at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Palace ran out 5-2 winners after an embarrassing performance from the Hammers.

Fresh from a closely contested European battle against Bayer Leverkusen, many people expected West Ham to build on the promising performance and push for a top-seven finish.

However, a rampant first-half performance by Palace saw them obliterate the Haammers – a result that may as spell the end for manager David Moyes.

The Eagles dominated from the outset, forcing the Hammers into a defensive shell. Michael Olise headed home a floated cross from Joachim Andersen in the seventh minute.

The lead only intensified Palace’s attacking zeal, and Eberechi Eze doubled their advantage with a bicycle kick.

However, Oliver Glasner’s rampant side were not done. Just after the half-hour mark, they doubled their lead thanks to an own goal by Emerson Palmieri and a clinical finish from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

In his 693rd Premier League game, this was the earliest a Moyes-managed side had ever trailed by four goals in a match.

Just before half-time, West Ham found a flicker of hope as Michail Antonio poked the ball home from close range against the run of play.

However, that reprieve was short-lived as Eze once again turned provider, setting up Mateta for his second goal of the afternoon in the second half.

West Ham grabbed a late consolation courtesy of a Dean Henderson own goal, but it did little to assuage the horror show from the Hammers.

Regardless of the spirited display against Leverkusen, this result may be the final nail in Moyes’ coffin.

Moyes has consistently advocated for a smaller squad, even reiterating this stance before the Palace clash. His stance contradicts his constant complaints about player fatigue in the second half of the season.

He doesn’t trust his fringe players, meaning they’re unprepared and lacking rhythm when called upon.

Moyes continues to rely on the same 13-14 players – a vicious cycle fueled by a lack of quality options that has led to his downfall.

This is a squad Moyes has built over the years, and several of them are unfit to wear the Hammers shirt.

With a testing run to the end of the season, including games against title-chasing duo Liverpool and Manchester City, West Ham will be lucky to finish in the top half of the table.

It’s disheartening that the Moyes era has to end this way. The Scotsman has been the architect of his own demise, and his exit may not be quite as dignified as it should be.