West Ham United lost 3-0 away to Premier League leaders Manchester City with Erling Haaland netting a brace either side of Tijjani Reijnders’ strike.
Here is how Hammers News rated Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Alphonse Areola – 7/10
Given very little protection by those in front of him. As he has done on many occasions recently, West Ham United’s goalkeeper kept the scoreline down.
Unlucky with the opening goal. The Frenchman did well to save that initial Haaland shot but could do nothing with the rebound. Also made a good stop to keep out Reijnders, only three minutes before the midfielder had his revenge.
Could have been a lot worse for West Ham without him.
Three and easy for Man City 🙁
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West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Manchester, England.
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Kyle Walker-Peters – 4/10
West Ham really missed Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s defensive talents here. He and Jean-Clair Todibo comically bundled into each other to gift Haaland his third.
Did press high and won the ball back for rare attempt on goal through Bowen though in the first half. Tried to get forward and stretch the pitch.
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Max Kilman – 2/10
Calamitous again.
West Ham are surely looking to replace Max Kilman as they hold talks with Toulouse regarding Charlie Cresswell. This was another nail in his Hammers coffin.
Kilman somehow escaped leaving Haaland unmarked as the City number nine headed wide at 1-0. Also left Josko Gvardiol free to test Areola. Then allowed Reijnders to hold him off with ease before smashing into the roof of the net.
Summed up his season when Kilman slipped moments before Haaland wrapped up the win.
Jean-Clair Todibo – 6/10
The best of West Ham’s defenders, even if he found himself embroiled in a mess of Walker-Peters’ making for City’s third. Made a few solid interventions and looked composed in possession when trying to play out from the back.
Ollie Scarles – 3/10
Hard not to feel sorry for the youngster. Ollie Scarles was given very little help up against Rayan Cherki and, predictably, was given the runaround by the sparkling City winger. Isolated and exposed. Some nice stuff going forward though.
Malick Diouf could miss seven matches due to AFCON duty. This feels like a big chance for Scarles, then, and Nuno will have been very concerned to see him forced off around the hour mark with another injury.
Replaced by Ezra Mayers.
Freddie Potts – 5/10
Had so much work to do from a defensive standpoint. An uncharacteristic loose touch set Man City away for their third goal.
Potts at least raised spirits earlier on in proceedings with a few typically meaty tackles. Showed rare quality and composure in possession until his late error.
Celebrations during Manchester City v West Ham United - Premier League
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Soungoutou Magassa – 6/10
Did OK.
Soungoutou Magassa is improving as a West Ham player. There would be no Old Trafford heroics on his return to Manchester, but the £14 million signing from Monaco held down the fort effectively enough in front of a poor backline.
Mateus Fernandes – 5/10
A funny old day for him. Fernandes was determined to make his mark against City and, at times, threatened to do just that. A couple of trademark driving runs were a brief highlight, as well as a delightfully disguised pass to create a one-v-one opportunity for Bowen.
However, Fernandes also let Phil Foden drift off him for City’s opener and ran into trouble for the home side’s second.
Replaced by Guido Rodriguez.
Lucas Paqueta – 5/10
Anonymous for the most part. Man City nearly signed Paqueta for a mind-boggling £80 million in 2023 but this will hardly have Pep Guardiola digging out the chequebook.
It took nearly 15 minutes before he produced a meaningful kick. One awful pass summed up his first half when West Ham looked to break.
Paqueta did create a chance for Summerville, though, with a lovely pass at 3-0 down.
Replaced by Tomas Soucek.
Who was YOUR West Ham Man of the Match? ☹️
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Crysencio Summerville – 4/10
Tried to run at his man and dart in behind every chance he got. City resorted to the dark arts at times to stop him in his tracks. On other occasions, Summerville was easily outmuscled. Full of intent but lacking in quality or physicality.
Missed chance for consolation when he forced a good save from Donnarumma. At the other end, he did little to help out the suffering Scarles.
Replaced by Callum Wilson.
Jarrod Bowen – 6/10
Barely involved up top in the first half but much more lively in the second. Missed a very good chance when fizzing wide at 2-0 down. As ever, looked like West Ham’s most reliable source of creativity.
Substitutes
Ezra Mayers – 5/10
Youngster replaced Scarles. Did his job well enough.
Tomas Soucek – N/A
No impact as City dominated possession. Actually, copy and paste for the other three introduced as part of a desperate quadruple change.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – N/A
Guido Rodriguez – N/A
Callum Wilson – N/A
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