Man United slump again, Tottenham move up to fourth

LONDON : Gloom descended on Manchester United again as they began their festive fixtures with a 2-0 Premier League defeat at West Ham United on Saturday - a 13th loss of the season in all competitions for Erik Ten Hag's faltering team.

Newly-crowned World Club champions Manchester City slipped out of the top four as Tottenham Hotspur claimed a third consecutive league win, beating Everton 2-1 at home in a thrilling end-to-end clash.

With City not in action after their triumph in Saudi Arabia, Tottenham moved above the champions into fourth place with 36 points from 18 games, three behind leaders Arsenal who face third-placed Liverpool (38 points) in the day's standout fixture at Anfield later on Saturday.

Aston Villa are second with 39 points, behind Arsenal on goal difference, after their surprise 1-1 draw with bottom club Sheffield United on Friday snapped their 15-match winning streak at home in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest's new manager Nuno Espirito Santo began with a 3-2 home defeat by Bournemouth which left 17th-placed Forest far too close to the bottom three for comfort after big wins for Luton Town and Burnley who are immediately below them.

Manchester United's gritty 0-0 draw at Liverpool last weekend was seen as a positive sign for Ten Hag's inconsistent side but all the negativity returned at the London Stadium.

Second-half goals by Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus sealed the win for West Ham who moved above United into sixth place.

Bowen bundled home from close range in the 72nd minute after a lovely one-two with Lucas Paqueta who played in Kudus six minutes later to settle the game with a sharp finish.

United, down in eighth place, again lacked any cutting edge in attack and have now gone four games in all