West Ham United's 2022/23 Premier League season opener started with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at the London Stadium.
Goals either side of half-time from Erling Haaland on his Premier League debut sealed three points for defending champions City against a Hammers side who lost goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to injury inside the opening 30 minutes and had only one fit senior centre-back in their matchday squad.
Here is how Football.London’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players against the Sky Blues.
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Lukasz Fabianski
It had been a heroic start from Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. While he did not have to make too many saves, he was very commanding in his box and matched every cross near him, both at set-pieces and open play. Following a collision with Aaron Cresswell and Erling Haaland, Fabianski was forced off injured shortly after Kevin De Bruyne's close-range strike was disallowed for offside, with Alphonse Areola replacing him shortly before the half hour mark. 7
Vladimir Coufal (Star man)
It was a solid display at right-back from Vladimir Coufal who caused a few problems when overlapping Jarrod Bowen and getting crosses into the box. Jack Grealish was definitely the quietest of City's plethora of attacking talents and was unable to get as much joy as the likes of Phil Foden, De Bruyne and Haaland, with Coufal and Ben Johnson often shackling him. Showed some good link-up with debutant Gianluca Scamacca in the second half, a sign of hope to come. 7
Ben Johnson
With only one fit centre-back available, Ben Johnson partnered Kurt Zouma in the middle of the back four, with the task of stopping a City front line that possessed the attacking qualities of Foden, Haaland and Grealish. He dealt with the crosses that came his way, strong in headers out of the box and clearances away from trouble. Too easy for Haaland to get through on goal to win the penalty, with Ilkay Gundogan's pass slicing between him and Declan Rice far too easily. Did really well to stop a second-half counter-attack where Haaland and Gundogan combined again to stop a clear-cut chance and managed to express quite the range of passing despite City's pressure. If it is a run of a few games where Johnson will play at centre-back, he did not do a bad job against one of the best sides in world football, definitely holding his own. 6
Kurt Zouma
With Nayef Aguerd, Craig Dawson and Issa Diop all injured and Angelo Ogbonna still on the road to full fitness, Zouma was the only fit natural centre-back in both the starting side and in the whole 20-man match squad. Looked solid early on and really looked to put himself up against Haaland in a physical battle. City doubled their lead when De Bruyne's clinical pass slotted through Zouma and Cresswell and Haaland bared down on goal before doubling the visitors' advantage. Barring that, a solid display, but all City needed was a moment of quality to carve the Hammers open. 6
Aaron Cresswell
One of those who impressed early on, Cresswell looked good at causing issues with his overlapping runs and crossing early on. Positioned himself well defensively for large parts in the first half, but City did cause a number of problems down his side. He and Zouma were left helpless when De Bruyne carved through one of his trademark passes to lead to Haaland's second. Showed good attacking intent but was definitely tested by the quality up against him. 6
Declan Rice
Declan Rice led out the Hammers for the first time as the club's official captain after succeeding the now-retired Mark Noble. Made one or two good early interceptions but found himself caught out too easily in the build-up that led to Haaland's opener. Quiet in the first half but grew into the game more early on in the second half. Had a chance early after the break but flashed over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. 6
Tomas Soucek
At times, Tomas Soucek was quiet, particularly in the first half, but did make a few good blocks in a largely quiet team performance before the break. Strong in tackling and making interceptions after the break, both he and Rice looked more like their usual selves in the second half. No signs of adding to his pre-season goals, however. 6
Jarrod Bowen
When these sides last met in May, Jarrod Bowen got himself on the scoresheet twice before half-time but did not fare of the same fortune this time around, hardly getting a kick in the first half. His one bright flash was quickly cut out by top defending from Nathan Ake. Like the team on the whole, Bowen looked more encouraging after the break but was kept quiet by Joao Cancelo on the majority, not the performance hoped from last season's top scorer. 5
Manuel Lanzini
Manuel Lanzini, like Pablo Fornals next to him, impressed early and showed a willingness to get at City's back line as much as possiblity could have done. A quiet end to the first half barring one intercepted pass that almost led to a chance, a quiet second half, Lanzini was taken off within 10 minutes of the second half starting. 5
Pablo Fornals
In the short bright spell the Hammers had in the early exchanges, Fornals was at the heart of it. The Spaniard put a brilliant cross into the box for Michail Antonio early on, pressed well and just put himself into dangerous areas. Quiet after that in the rest of the first half, as were much of the front six. Looked more involved when moving centrally after Lanzini's exit, inspired by Scamacca's arrival. 6
Michail Antonio
Scoring 10 goals in each of the last three Premier League campaigns, Michail Antonio kept his place leading the line, with Scamacca's lack of pre-season boosting the forward's chances of keeping his place, for now. Needing his presence of pressing and making life difficult early on, with much of West Ham's possession coming via clearances. Did head over one good chance early on at the end of a Fornals delivery. Picked up a knock shortly after Fabianski's injury that held him back at times, but drew a couple fouls out of Ruben Dias. 6
Substitutes
Alphonse Areola
Areola's introduction did not get off to the best of starts. Within minutes of coming on, he bought down Haaland in the box before the Norwegian sent him the wrong way from the penalty spot. Could not do much about the second goal with Haaland slotted clear through on goal. Comfortable in possession at the ball, but almost all of City's best chances barring their goals were either blocked or went wide. 5
Gianluca Scamacca
Despite Moyes stating that the Italian would not be available or feature in his pre-match press conference, the Hammers' £30.5million new striker got 35 minutes to impress when coming on for Antonio. He first showed his physical presence when nodding down a goal kick that started a move leading to a half chance for Said Benrahma. West Ham looked much more likely of creating something when Scamacca was on the pitch. 6
Said Benrahma
Alongside Scamacca came Benrahma who replaced Lanzini, moving Fornals to the central role behind the Italian debutant. Had the Hammers' first chance on target of the game on around the hour mark when firing low at the end of an overhit cross. 5
Flynn Downes
Earned a stoppage-time debut, replacing Bowen. N/A
Conor Coventry
On in stoppage time very late on in place of Lanzini. N/A
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