Manchester United’s dismal Premier League season continued to unravel as Ruben Amorim’s side were soundly beaten 2-0 by West Ham at Old Trafford, with little sign of the spark needed ahead of their upcoming Europa League final.
Goals from Tomas Soucek and captain Jarrod Bowen secured a long-overdue win for a Hammers side that had failed to claim victory in their previous eight league matches — but had little trouble dispatching a lacklustre United.
Despite starting five players expected to feature in the Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May, United were flat and uninspired.
Their woes deepened when young defender Leny Yoro limped off with a foot injury, visibly distressed as he headed straight to the dressing room.
Luke Shaw was also withdrawn soon after, likely as a precaution, throwing Amorim’s defensive plans for the final into question.
The loss extended United’s winless run in the Premier League to seven matches, equalling their worst-ever stretch in the competition from 1992 — though that sequence featured more draws.
Since January 26, the only teams they’ve managed to beat are already-relegated Ipswich and Leicester.
Their best chances to salvage something came through Rasmus Hojlund and Harry Maguire, but both saw their efforts thwarted by the excellent Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal.
With their top-flight campaign limping to a close, United’s hopes of salvaging anything from the season now rest entirely on success in Europe.
