De Gea error gifts West Ham 1-0 win over Manchester United

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A howler by Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea gifted West Ham United three vital points in their battle against relegation as the hosts secured a 1-0 Premier League win at the London Stadium on Sunday.

United are fourth on 63 points after 34 games, one ahead of Liverpool and with a game in hand over the Merseysiders, while West Ham are 15th on 37 points, seven above the drop zone.

Visiting forwards Marcus Rashford and Antony hit the post in the first half but De Gea's error will capture the headlines as it reopened the chase for Champions League places.

Said Benrahma's bouncing shot from distance looked to be no real threat but although Spaniard De Gea dived and got a hand to it he failed to keep the ball out as West Ham took the lead.

"It’s part of football. You have a lot in your head but football is a game of mistakes," United boss Erik ten Hag told the BBC.

"There's a team, you have to bounce back and deal with the effect. You can also say in front of goal we weren't clinical enough."

The goal knocked the wind out of United's sails and they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Victor Lindelof moved his arm into the path of a ball from Benrahma, with VAR deciding not to recommend a spot kick as the first half came to a close.

De Gea redeemed himself somewhat early in the second half with a superb reaction save to deny Tomas Soucek but he looked shaky again as Soucek found the net with a header in the 73rd minute, only to see the effort chalked off for offside.