West Ham 2-0 Manchester United: 3 reasons why Man Utd lost | Premier League 2019/20

#2 Manchester United's missed chances

Costly miss!

Manchester United never looked like a potent threat going forward for much of the game, and with the side lacking invention, any chance was a golden opportunity not to be missed. However, Juan Mata and Harry Maguire failed to capitalise on two glorious opportunities in the second half.

Just after the interval, Scott McTominay played Andreas Pereira through on the right-wing, and the Brazilian played a sumptuous cross towards the far post which was somehow missed by Juan Mata. Moments later, Harry Maguire sent his close-range shot straight at West Ham's Lukasz Fabianski who expertly made the save.

Those were gilt-edged chances, and if United had converted, the tale might have ended differently.

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#1 Clinical West Ham

The Hammers celebrate!

In a game where the Manchester United attack never seemed to get going, West Ham's forays forward were more pleasing to the eye and looked every bit more potent. The Hammers had 8 shots in total, and 6 of those were on target.

In the 44th minute, the Hammers took the initiative, as Andriy Yarmolenko expertly evaded the United defenders and the offside line, sweetly received Felipe Anderson's properly weighted pass, and dispatched the ball into the bottom left corner, beyond David de Gea's reach.

Aaron Cresswell saved the best for last. Mark Noble was fouled by Ashley Young in the 83rd minute, and Cresswell stepped up to take the resultant freekick. The 29-year-old masterfully curled the ball into the top right corner and beyond De Gea's reach. Two goals at the tail end of either half was enough to earn West Ham all three points.