David de Gea Holler guides Said Benrahma, the winner in the first half

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West Ham beat Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday night after a first-half goal from Said Benrahma. The Algerian striker took a chance from 20 yards out, David De Gea failed to save it directly, and David Moyes’ side moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. Winning the remaining three matches

The lasting memory of that encounter will be the image of David de Gea shaking his head at how he managed to get himself into such a mess.

He wasn’t the only one. Only De Gea can explain how he let Said Benrahma’s shot wriggle through his fists. You might imagine his manager Erik ten Hag would demand this explanation.

While West Ham secured their place in the Premier League with this impressive win – United are in danger of relinquishing their hold on one of the top four places.

They run out of steam at the wrong time, and their grueling schedule catches up with them. What’s more, Liverpool are breathing down their necks.

They may find solace in the fact that third-placed Newcastle lost on Sunday. But this would be grasping at straws. Because here in East London they were – for the most part – paranoid, at the intensity of West Ham.

David De Gea was at fault after a shocking mistake as Manchester United lost 1-0 to West Ham and Said Benrahma scored the only goal of the match as he seized the opportunity with an early strike from outside the penalty area in the first half. Khea looked to have a solid hand on the ball but it faded from his grasp to gift West Ham what proved to be a winner, it meant a second defeat in three days for Manchester United with fourth place no longer in danger, but there was joy. For West Ham, Benrahma’s goal means they can breathe a little easier in the relegation battle

United have won only two of their last six matches. One of those is via penalties against Brighton.

In the end, De Gea cost them here at the London Stadium, but overall their form will have to do with Ten Hag in the final weeks of the season.

Their victory in the Carabao Cup was a tangible success. Who knows, they might achieve the domestic cup double when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

But the goal this season has always been to qualify for the Champions League. At one stage, their return to the European summit table seemed assured. Not anymore.

Season 1’s impressive perception of Teen Hag would change if they dropped him now

But in the first 25 minutes, there was a fluency in United’s play that West Ham struggled to tame.

But even in the brilliant opening throws there were signs of the embarrassment De Gea was about to endure when he was saved by Wout Weghorst’s diligence after the keeper’s poor pass in midfield which Declan Rice read with ease.

Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Anthony all missed good chances in the first ten minutes as United came out of the blocks.

Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek put the ball into the net too, but it was ruled offside as United were left hanging on. Manchester United produced a number of promising moments going forward, but could not find a way past Lukasz Fabianski. 10 innings and hit his best chances in the game directly on the Hammers guard facts

West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 7; Aguerd 7.5, Kehrer 7, Ogbonna 7.5, Cresswell 7 (Emerson 90); rice 8, soucek 7; Bowen 6.5, Paqueta 7.5 (Downes 90), Benrahma 7.5 (Fornals 87); Antonio 6.5 (Johnson 90).

Unused substitutes: areola; Anang, Lanzini, Cornette, Ings

Director: David Moyes 8

Top scorer: Ben Rahma 27

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 3; Wan-Bissaka 5.5 (Dalot 88), Lindelof 5.5, Shaw 6, Malacia 5.5 (Unique 88); Casemiro 6, Eriksen 6 (Sapitzer 74); Anthony 5.5 (Sancho 74), Wighurst 5.5 (Martial 57, 5), Fernandez 6; Rashford 6.5.

Unused substitutes: Butland; Maguire, Williams, Garnacho.

Director: Eric ten Hag 6

Booked: Malasya, Wan-Bissaka

Referee: Peter Banks 6

David Moyes was thankful for the return of key trio Rice, Thomas Suchek and Naif Agwerd – who missed the midweek loss at Etihad due to illness.

Who knows if the Hammers would have been able to keep United at bay during the early stages without them.

United, who also hit the post through Rashford, were in control. In complete control.

But there are some things you can’t legislate for; What was next was such an occasion.

Perhaps Luke Shaw could have been stronger at dealing. Perhaps Aaron Wan-Bissaka could have chased more.

But that was all about De Gea’s shortcomings. Benrahma’s effort in the 27th minute should have been saved routinely. Somehow the ball rolled under De Gea’s hand.

The United goalkeeper is compiling a growing catalog of deflections.

The cameras panned to Tin Hag, who unhesitatingly looked up into the air. You wonder what was on his mind.

Anthony’s deflected effort hit just outside Fabianski’s far post as United regained their composure before De Gea finally frustrated Ben Rahma at the end of the first half. If only he had done it earlier.

The Hammers were furious that the Algerian’s follow-up effort – which appeared to hit Victor Lindelof on the arm – was not referred to the VAR.

Not that Moyes had much to complain about. In contrast, United had only themselves to blame.

They made the slots but they lacked the latest technology. This is not the first time their proficiency in front of goal has cost them in recent weeks.

No wonder Ten Hag has put a new central player at the top of his summer wish list. You wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted a new goalkeeper, too.

Declan Rice was at his best in West Ham’s midfield and seemed to cover every patch of turf as they won

De Gea had a terrible evening. West Ham fired the ball into the net in the 52nd minute, only for referee Peter Banks to rule the goal after a simple mistake from Michael Antonio on De Gea.

Wieghurst saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area comfortably saved by Fabianski in the 56th minute, before he was replaced by Anthony Martial.

But for all United’s endeavors to bring themselves up to level, West Ham have been keeping a low profile.

Soucek slotted home an acrobatic scissor kick from a Lucas Paqueta cross as West Ham ran David Moyes right down to the tee.

In the heat of battle, Rice was at her best. Every blade of grass. Vigilance in its own half. Expressive in opponents.

Special mention also to Paqueta, whose influence has grown in this West Ham team. It was perfect again last night.

Lucas Paqueta has also been excellent as he continues to grow in his role at the London Stadium

Soucek thought he had taken the Hammers into a two-goal lead in the 73rd minute but the Czech midfielder deflected into an offside position.

Rashford saw a shot missed by Fabianski before the match was stopped for a long time after a collision of heads between Soucek and Wan-Bissaka.

The treatment added eight minutes of injury time to the match. Another eight minutes of suffering for the West Ham fans – or United depending on how you look at it.

But the pain was worth it. The ones in purple and blue broke out.

Those in red – and a certain goalkeeper wearing luminous green – couldn’t get off the field fast enough.

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