Football News

West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse vowed his side would bounce back from their «embarrassing» 5-2 Premier League drubbing at Crystal Palace when they host Liverpool on Saturday.

The hosts were 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes at Selhurst Park in part thanks to an Emerson own goal before Jean-Philippe Mateta made it four in the 31st minute. Just one of the Irons' goals scored by Antonio late in the first period could be rightfully claimed by the visitors, who benefitted by a late second-half own goal by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

A seething David Moyes did not mince his words after the contest, branding his side's display as one of the worst he had witnessed in his career and, while Ward-Prowse was more measured than his boss, he was no less dismayed.

Ward-Prowse told the West Ham website: «It was nowhere near good enough. Embarrassing on our part.

»We had a fantastic night in the week (Europa League), albeit we didn't get through, but we showed what I believe a West Ham team should look like.

«We were front-footed, aggressive. You can talk about the way you play with the ball and stuff, but I think out of possession, we didn't show anywhere near enough aggression or togetherness and I think that ultimately cost us.»

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Eighth-placed West Ham, who sit 12 points below Tottenham in the Europa League place, even before the Palace defeat already looked to require a near-perfect end to their season if they had any hope of securing another season of European football.

Moyes' men impressed in their 1-1 Europa League quarter-final second-leg draw

West Ham David Moyes Jean Philippe Mateta