The reason behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s latest brutal West Ham snub has come to light, and it is one that is certain to infuriate Liverpool.
The contexts and expectations are completely different, but both West Ham and Liverpool have struggled this season.
While Liverpool’s drop-off has cost them the chance to defend their Premier League title, West Ham’s looks like costing them their very place in the top flight.
The Hammers are effectively six points adrift of safety and could finally drop into the Premier League plughole they have been circling for two years.
Relegation is the price the Irons will pay for two years of regression whereas Liverpool’s backwards step just means they face a fight to qualify for the Champions League this season.
West Ham and Liverpool paying price for summer transfer misses
The two clubs don’t share much in common on the pitch.
But at the heart of both Arne Slot and Nuno Espirito Santo’s problems this season is their defence and an inability to keep clean sheets.
Imagine if Nuno were to be sacked…😮
Who would you want West Ham to replace him with and why?
West Ham United v Fulham - Premier League
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
West Ham have shipped 36 goals in 18 games, the second most in the entire division.
Meanwhile Liverpool have conceded 26, the joint most in the top 14.
Nuno was not West Ham’s manager during the summer transfer window and is working with a ramshackle squad he inherited from Graham Potter.
West Ham recognised they had a problem in defence as the window was drawing to a close with a failed move for England Under 21 star Charlie Cresswell.
Given what we know now and what has transpired at the London Stadium and Anfield since, what happened next in the summer has ultimately shaped the season for both clubs.
Nuno Espirito Santo of West Ham and Liverpool boss Arne Slot shake hands
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
So a situation developing in east London will raise eyebrows on Merseyside.
Because the reason behind Nuno’s brutal new West Ham snub will totally infuriate Liverpool.
What initially appeared to be a simple selection or transfer decision is now understood to be far more pointed, adding fresh edge to an already tense situation.
Nuno’s actions come as the lid is lifted on West Ham’s plan for the January window but Liverpool will be raging.
There has been claim and counter-claim about who was to blame for the collapse of Liverpool’s move to sign Marc Guehi from Palace in the summer.
Reason behind Nuno’s West Ham snub will infuriate Liverpool
West Ham, Palace and Liverpool were involved in a deadline day transfer triangle which had a huge twist.
The Hammers, Reds and the Eagles were all looking to sign a centre-back before the window slammed shut but only West Ham succeeded.
McKenna would be the perfect Nuno replacement…😍
Disagree? Let us know why…
Kieran McKenna West Ham
Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Guehi, who is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of the season, looked nailed on for a move to the Premier League champions, who have had doubts over Ibrahima Konate for some time.
The England defender’s move to Anfield looked set to go through on deadline day and was even given the ‘here we go’ by transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.
But Guehi’s dream move to Liverpool fell through amid much controversy and it turned out West Ham were to blame.
It was the result of West Ham signing Igor Julio in unusual circumstances after he looked set for a shock move from Brighton to bitter rivals Palace.
Armando Broja and Igor Julio during West Ham United v Burnley - Premier League
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Oliver Glasner wanted the Brazilian before he would sanction Guehi’s departure to Liverpool.
There were even claims Glasner could walk out if the Eagles let Guehi go without signing Igor as a replacement.
West Ham hijacked the Igor move and Glasner pulled the plug on Guehi joining the Reds.
Since then there has been fervent speculation Guehi will now move to Real Madrid or Barcelona instead of joining Liverpool on a free in the summer window.
So the ship may have sailed for Liverpool because of West Ham.
And Slot will be livid as an ironic twist to the situation emerges in the east end.
West Ham trying to cancel deal which collapsed Guehi’s move to Liverpool
Igor was nowhere to be seen in West Ham’s squad for the damaging defeat to Fulham at the weekend.
That’s despite Nuno being down on numbers defensively due to both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf being away at AFCON.
Igor has barely featured since that fateful day he chose to sign for West Ham.
With a lack of experienced defensive cover, it was a shock that Igor was not named on the bench by Nuno. Especially as he can also play at left-back.
That decision was cast into the spotlight when young Ollie Scarles made a howler which cost the Hammers the game.
Now Hammers News can reveal the reason Igor was left out and Liverpool will be incredulous.
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
West Ham have Igor on a season-long loan from Brighton but want to cancel it early to open up a domestic loan slot for a January signing.
The relegation-threatened Hammers are going to struggle to convince players to join them on permanent deals so the loan market will be key.
West Ham’s problem is that Brighton have to agree to tear up the loan deal, as the Hammers did with Forest over James Ward-Prowse last January.
Hammers News understands the Seagulls, who they face on Tuesday night when Igor won’t be able to play against his parent club, are reluctant to sanction the early termination.
Leaving Igor out altogether is West Ham’s way of telling Brighton Igor would be better off returning to the AMEX.
West Ham eyes will be on whether that wish is eventually granted so they can try to bring a player in to make a real impact on the second half of the season.
But Liverpool will feel justifiably furious at the way things have panned out given the doomed move looks to have cost them Guehi – and their Premier League crown.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox