West Ham United

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Once more, West Ham's failure to defend set-pieces proved crucial. Before the game, six of their 11 goals conceded in the Premier League had been from corners, while no other team had let in more than three.

But the Hammers once more struggled with deliveries into the penalty area. Daichi Kamada gave them an early warning and forced Alphonse Areola, who replaced Mads Hermansen for his first league start of the season, to tip the ball over.

Marc Guehi, who saw a transfer deadline day move to Liverpool break down after Brighton's Igor Julio went on loan to West Ham instead of Palace, rose superbly to head at goal and Areola was unlucky his excellent save only fell to Jean-Philippe Mateta.

London Stadium has often been criticised by West Ham fans unhappy the atmosphere is a pale comparison to their previous home Upton Park.

Jarrod Bowen's goal gave West Ham hope and instantly lifted the mood around the ground, with the hosts on top and the supporters giving them their full backing.

But more defensive problems from the hosts ruined their good work, with Tyrick Mitchell given far too much time to volley into the roof of the net.

Next up is a match against former boss David Moyes, with the Hammers travelling to Everton on 29 September.

Some West Ham fans wanted Moyes out following a ninth-placed finish two seasons ago, a year after he had guided them to their first major trophy in 43 years.

It is hard to see how the club have progressed in any way since then.

Graham Potter spoke to Premier Leaue Productions after West Ham's defeat against Crystal Palace: "We have to stick together, work hard and find a solution, it's as simple as that, We are going through a tough time at the moment, but the only way out is to be together.

What is lacking at the moment? "I don't think it was effort, the players gave everything, the second half was a good response from us, pushed them back and got an equaliser.

"Their second goal sums up where we are at the moment, it was a bit out of nothing. We couldn't quiet respond as well as we'd like. But we need to stick together and keep working hard."

Is the window for you to turn things around getting narrower?

"I don't thin about it to be honest, it's part and parcel of the job."

Can you turn it around? "Absolutely, but I understand the nature of the question and the business."

Did you know?

• West Ham have lost their opening three home league games for the second consecutive season; they had never previously done so in 98 seasons in English football beforehand.

• El Hadji Malick Diouf has assisted three goals in five appearances for West Ham in the Premier League. Only Michael Carrick (7), Joe Cole (6), Jermain Defoe (6), and Frank Lampard (5) have registered more assists for the Hammers in the competition before their 21st birthday.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on West Ham's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Graham Potter makes two changes to his West Ham side following a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham last weekend.

Alphonse Areola replaces Mads Hermansen in goal, while Callum Wilson comes in for the suspended Tomas Soucek.

West Ham XI: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Diouf, Ward-Prowse, Fernandes, Paqueta, Bowen, Wilson, Summerville.

Subs: Hermansen, Julio, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Todibo, Magassa, Scarles, Irving.

Oliver Glasner makes just the one change to the Crystal Palace side that drew 0-0 with Sunderland last weekend, as he was able to rotate his squad in the midweek League Cup tie against Millwall.

That change sees Adam Wharton return from a groin injury and replace Jefferson Lerma in midfield.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino, Kamada, Mateta.

Subs: Matthews, Lerma, Nketiah, Clyne, Uche, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Liverpool v Everton (12:30)

• Brighton v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Burnley v Nottingham Forest

• West Ham v Crystal Palace

• Wolves v Leeds

• Manchester United v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Brentford (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I got into an argument with a couple of West Ham fans on BBC Radio 5 Live's 606 because they had left early during last weekend's defeat by Tottenham.

It is their right - I get that - but if you're a proper fan, you don't leave early. I never did that as a kid when I used to support Nottingham Forest.

West Ham are at home again this week, but that is more likely to hinder them than help them - and how many times have we seen this movie with the Hammers now?

The owners always take the brunt of the blame when things are going wrong, but they spent over £120m on new players this summer, with a net spend of £70m, and the problem for boss Graham Potter is that there hasn't been any improvement from when he took over in January.

Crystal Palace are so well drilled that, even if they are without injured duo Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton, they should still do a job on them.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

East London rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace have had contrasting form heading into their fixture on Saturday.

A third home London derby in just the fifth league game of the season is probably not what West Ham would have wanted right now, as they have so far been a bit too hospitable when the neighbours have popped round this season.

The Hammers' defensive generosity saw them ship a combined total of eight goals when hosting Chelsea and Tottenham – add that to the three they let in at Sunderland on the opening day of the season, and it is no surprise they have conceded the most goals in the 2025-26 Premier League so far.

But the worrying thing for the Hammers, who spent close to £100m on defensive players over the summer, is not just the total, it is the manner in which they have conceded those 11 goals, which have come despite them having an xG of just 5.5.

Six goals have been let in from corners, which is twice as many as any other top-flight team have allowed, and only two fewer than West Ham conceded from corners in the whole of last season.

The London Stadium faithful have seen nine goals this season, but only one has been scored by their team. They have not witnessed a home win since February so it is no surprise patience is wearing thin with head coach Graham Potter, who has now lost 11 of his 22 league games at West Ham.

Crystal Palace warmed up for this derby encounter with a match-up against another local rival, seeing off Millwall in an EFL Cup penalty shootout in midweek.

It was a 16th match unbeaten for the Eagles, who are also on the current longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, a stretch of 10 games. It is their best such streak in the top flight since 1990.

They have not lost on their past six visits to West Ham, and have lost just two of their last 17 away Premier League matches, keeping nine clean sheets in their last 15 on the road. Their one league goal conceded so far this season is matched only by Arsenal and Tottenham.

That pragmatic approach may explain why they have had 12 0-0 draws in the Premier League since the start of 2022-23, at least two more than any other team in that time.

But Palace fans will not care about a lack of goals – they have come a long way in the past year. Eleven months ago they were in the relegation zone and without a win in the league, but two trophies since then have turned Oliver Glasner from a manager under pressure into a club hero.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

If West Ham thought they were back on track after beating Nottingham Forest prior to the international break, Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham proved a sobering reality check and a reminder of the mounting problems facing head coach Graham Potter.

The most pressing is their leaky defence. They have already conceded a league-high 11 goals, including a remarkable six from corners.

That is more than twice as many as any other side, with over a third of all Premier League goals scored from corners this season ending in the Hammers' net.

Equally as crucial, but perhaps harder to solve, is rediscovering a connection with the fanbase.

This will be West Ham's third consecutive home game against London opposition and each of the previous two - against Tottenham and Chelsea - saw supporters streaming out long before the final whistle, with defeat by then inevitable.

Fans are entitled to expect better, given the club have spent more than £250m in the past three transfer windows. Half of that outlay has come under Potter, who has won just six of his 22 league matches. That includes only two home wins, and none since February.

Another issue likely to alarm the West Ham board is the increased competitiveness of the newly-promoted sides. In each of the previous two seasons, the newcomers went straight back down without much of a fight, with 27 points theoretically enough to guarantee safety in both campaigns.

However, the early indications are that Sunderland, Burnley and Leeds United will fare better this term.

That may take away a bit of a comfort blanket for any established Premier League teams struggling at the wrong end of the table - and could leave Potter's position in jeopardy unless results improve soon.

Croatian manager Slaven Bilic is a contender to return to West Ham United and replace Graham Potter, if the Premier League club decide to make a managerial change. (Talksport), external

Former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Everton manager Sean Dyche are also under consideration to replace Potter at London Stadium. (Guardian), external

Want more news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at London Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka is unavailable due to "a problem with his stomach". It is hoped that he will return to "light training" tomorrow or over the weekend.

• Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug have both had "a full week of training" so the rest of the squad is "pretty much as it was".

• Academy graduate Freddie Potts has to "keep working hard with the other players and wait for his opportunity", after being included in the matchday squad but left on the bench last time out.

• There should not be concern about their two home results this season, losing to Chelsea "who are Club World Cup champions" and Tottenham "who are competing in the Champions League".

• However, Potter did admit that West Ham's home record has not been good enough "for a period of time", extending to before he joined the club in January 2025.

• Asked about changes he would like to see on Saturday, he replied: "In the Premier League, it's difficult to control things for the whole 90 minutes, so sometimes you have to suffer and sometimes you need a bit of luck. Our challenge at home is to play better than we have. We've been affected by goals a little too much."

• Defending set-pieces is "an area that has to be improved" and something the squad has been "working on all week". He added: "There's no point shying away from it. We have to own it and use it as an opportunity to make some progress because, at the moment, it is hurting us."

• In relation to the club statement released on Wednesday night, external, he highlighted that "everybody is on the same page, in terms of how much we love the club and how much we want the club to do well".

• He went further in his insistence that everyone at West Ham is united: "Everybody wants West Ham to do well, the fans, the players, me and my staff do and the board. We are all on the same page in terms of how much we love the club and how much we want them to do well. We are all hurting the same."

• On the suggestion his role is to 'build and develop the first-team squad in line with the club's identity and objectives': "You have to do lots of things in this job. You have to build and develop, but you also have to win and it's fair to say we haven't done that as much as we would like. There's always pressure and negativity that comes with that."

• FA Cup winners and Conference League debutants Crystal Palace "are clearly doing a lot right". Potter praised the club's board and manager Oliver Glasner for doing a "fantastic job building their current project".

• He added on their London rivals: "They have lots of good players that clearly know what they are doing in and out of possession. They are solid in attack and defence but nobody is perfect, so we have to focus on making our game a problem for them as well."

Follow Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

West Ham have started to think about potential successors to under-pressure boss Graham Potter and want someone who can galvanise the squad and the club's fanbase. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, the Hammers, Everton and Nottingham Forest considered a move for Sergio Reguilon over the summer, with the 28-year-old Spain full-back a free agent after leaving Tottenham. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

West Ham fan contributor Holly Turbutt speaks about the issues Graham Potter needs to fix to turn around the Hammers' fortunes.

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Bill: Weak and naive and at the back, slow in midfield and our striker on the bench. It's hard to understand Graham Potter's tactics, let alone his strategy for the club. This is relegation form that has to change very quickly. Potter may be gone soon - his time is surely up?

Mark: Woeful defending for all three goals. Midfield are far to slow and no out-and-out attacker again. Potter hasn't a clue - time to get rid and get either Jose Mourinho or Nuno Espirito Santo in. But, the board won't do that because they like yes men.

Darren: I was optimistic about the appointment of Potter and wanted to give him time. But enough is enough - we are in a relegation battle. Our defensive frailties are clearly visible and he has no answers. Another dreadful performance, despite a bright first 20 minutes.

Dave: Another gutless, spineless performance under the direction of a clueless manager.

Spurs fans

Brian: Definite signs of improvement in this young squad with huge potential. Bergvall was a shining light, but so many positives to take from the game. Considering the injury list, players still getting up to fitness and learning the way Thomas Frank plays, I have high hopes for the team.

Matt: Positive early signs. Bit 'Spursy' in our result against Bournemouth but a good bounce back, especially after the international break. I feel we are starting to resemble a squad with depth. Lots of options for the season ahead.

Barry: When is a goal not a goal - when the correct decision is too difficult for the officials to have the courage to take it (this also applies to subsequent penalty appeal). But, justice was done.

Andy: Who'd have thought we would be set-piece specialists?! At the back, we really have two world-class centre-backs in Van de Ven and Romero; and, in midfield, it looks like our trio will be Palhinha, Sarr and Bergvall until Maddison comes back. However, there are still issues up front with none of the forwards scoring or looking like they are going to score. We don't have any natural finishers - even when Solanke comes back. Simons and Kudus look good on the flanks, but let's hope Kolo Muani in the middle is the answer.

West Ham are considering a move for Nuno Espirito Santo should they sack manager Graham Potter. (Alan Nixon), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Even when they are being subjected to the kind of criticism they are getting at the moment, West Ham's ownership tend not to go in for knee-jerk reactions when it comes to dealing with managers.

Chairman David Sullivan is more likely to give someone a game or two extra rather than act when there is still a possibility the situation might be pulled round.

Clearly though, heavy home defeats by two of the club's fiercest rivals and slipping into the bottom three is not a good look, especially when Graham Potter's appointment last season failed to trigger the improvement hoped for.

If there is a slight positive as far as Potter is concerned, it comes from knowing we are still incredibly early into the new season.

Julen Lopetegui collected only five points from his first six Premier League games in charge last season and it was January before he was sacked. In 2022-23, West Ham collected five points from seven games with David Moyes in charge.

The secondary point is that West Ham made four signings between 29 August and the transfer deadline closing two days later. Given there was an international break in between, how much time has Potter had to work with his new-look squad?

Next week, unbeaten Crystal Palace visit London Stadium for a game where huge demonstrations against the ownership are planned. If that game doesn't go well, a tense atmosphere could turn toxic.

After that it's a trip to Merseyside and a meeting with Moyes' improving Everton before a trip to Arsenal, where West Ham have won on their past two visits, including under Potter in February.

That feels a more obvious time to reassess, even if many West Ham fans feel getting rid of the manager is only the start of the change they really want.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham made five signings in the summer, with highly rated full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson among those to arrive.

Despite bolstering their defensive options, that has been the main concern for the Hammers this season.

Aside from the alarming number of goals they have conceded, it is also the type they are letting in.

No team has conceded more headed goals (five) than West Ham this season, while they have also let in six goals from corners - only two fewer than they conceded from corners in the whole of last season (eight).

"We conceded nine or 10 set-pieces before the goal [against Tottenham] and defended them well," said Graham Potter after his side's 3-0 defeat to Spurs.

"We made a mistake at the far post and got punished."

But for ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, it is not just about the poor start to the season but more the poor form that has been going on longer.

"Everyone said judge Graham Potter when he's had a full pre-season and a chance to get his own players in, but there's been no improvement," he told BBC Sport.

Seeing the stadium half empty in the second half, just like it was against Chelsea, will worry the West Ham hierarchy.

"Tomas Soucek's red card didn't help but that is six wins and 11 defeats in 22 league matches for Potter. They've started so poorly. Will he be given more time? I'm not sure."

Pundits Ashley Williams and Shay Given join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-0 Aston Villa

• Newcastle 1-0 Wolves

• West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Despite a bright opening spell, it proved to be another afternoon of frustration for those associated with West Ham.

Had Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta delivered the sort of finish a superb move down the right deserved - instead of one that was tame and off-target - things may have played out differently.

And as early promise evaporated, Spurs took control of proceedings and West Ham's defensive flaws were exposed again.

The Hammers have now conceded more headed goals (5) than any other side in the Premier League this season and and on this evidence, it is easy to understand why.

Quite why full-back Walker-Peters and midfielder Mateus Fernandes were at times picking up Romero and Van de Ven at set pieces was mystifying.

As was Sarr being one of two Tottenham players left completely alone at the back post when he headed the opening goal less than two minutes after half-time.

The defending for Bergvall's goal was little better, coming from a long ball that completely caught out centre -back Konstantinos Mavropanos. For Van de Ven's strike, West Ham had eight players in their box to Spurs' three, yet were still beaten to the loose ball.