Julen Lopetegui will face some difficult questions after his West Ham side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester.
Under pressure for a result, they made the worst possible start when Jamie Vardy opened the scoring after just a minute and 38 seconds.
The Foxes doubled their lead in the second half through Bilal El Khannouss’s fine strike and then added a third through Patson Daka to inflict a damaging defeat on the Hammers.
Niclas Fullkrug, on his return after an injury which kept him out since August, struck a late consolation.
Dom Smith was at the King Power Stadium to rate the West Ham players’ performances…
Lukasz Fabianski 6
After conceding to Vardy within two minutes, he then denied the Englishman with a smart save. After the interval, saved Wilfried Ndidi’s header from point-blank range.
Vladimir Coufal 4
Played negatively, often passing back. Booked for a challenge in which he won the ball but led with his studs.
Played Vardy onside for Leicester’s opener and continued to step up too late, allowing the veteran in behind far too often.
Mavropanos’s centre-back partner was just as bad, and should have got tighter to Vardy for the goal. Then totally sold by Patson Daka as Leicester scored a late third.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5
Energetic display again, this time on the left flank, but lost the ball in the lead-up to Leicester’s second goal.
Tomas Soucek 5
Quiet performance from the Czech midfielder before he was hooked after an hour.
Edson Alvarez 5
One nice run forward in the first half, but powerless to stop Leicester’s relentless counter-attacks.
Jarrod Bowen 6
Denied with three shots by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen in the first half. Never stopped running.
Carlos Soler 5
Not as influential as in the win over Newcastle. Replaced after 62 minutes.
Mohammed Kudus 6
A decent return after his five-month suspension. Tried to make things happen with his typical mazy runs.
Danny Ings 5
Put himself about in the first half. Replaced at half-time, having originally looked set to depart after just 35 minutes.
Subs:
Crysencio Summerville (Ings, 46’) 5
Should have scored when he was denied from on the line. Not as impactful as his manager will have wanted.
Michail Antonio (Soler, 62’) 5
Tried to hold the ball up in a game that had already got away from West Ham.
Lucas Paqueta (Soucek, 62’) 5
Very quiet for the half-hour he was on.
Emerson (Coufal, 62’) 6
Did not track back quickly enough. Surprising that he didn’t start.
Niclas Fullkrug (Kudus, 79’) N/A
Scored his first goal for the Hammers in his first outing since August following his injury hell.
Not used: Guilherme, Foderingham, Rodriguez, Casey
