Crystal Palace clobbered a West Ham United side that looked like it was still down from its Europa League exit, as the rampant Eagles treated Selhurst Park to a 5-2 win on Sunday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and both Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise registered a goal and an assist as the Eagles built a 4-0 lead en route to essentially securing their Premier League status.
WATCH CRYSTAL PALACE vs WEST HAM FULL MATCH REPLAY
Palace move onto 36 points, nine clear of 18th-place Luton Town. The Eagles have five games left while Luton have four.
West Ham United’s European hopes rest solely on their table finish, and David Moyes and Co. fought well versus Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday in the Europa League quarterfinals but could not overcome a first-leg deficit.
This result will not help Moyes’ hopes of returning to Europe, and it may well sting his overall job status. Michail Antonio scored in the first half and a Dean Henderson howler handed them an own goal late on, as the Irons 48 points are good for eighth place. Ninth-place Chelsea are a point back with three matches-in-hand, while 10th-place Brighton are four points back with two matches-in-hand.
Healthy Eagles fly higher
Say what you will about West Ham’s poor performance, but Palace didn’t waste their chance to take advantage of it.
Selhurst Park is finally seeing the vision of attack Palace’s admin envisioned before the season, as healthy Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise create so much room for their teammates.
It had paid off for Odsonne Edouard before and today it was Jean-Philippe Mateta. The 26-year-old now has nine Premier League goals this season.
There are just so many more chance when players like Eze and Olise are buzzing around the pitch, and the Eagles’ attack looks deep now that Jordan Ayew and Edouard can come off the bench rather than be expected to star on a weekly basis.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham player ratings (fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs West Ham player ratings (fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs West Ham player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Palace stay home for a 3pm ET Wednesday visit from Newcastle United before going to Fulham at 10am Saturday.
West Ham get the week to prepare for a 7:30am Saturday visit from title-chasing Liverpool.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Sunday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Crystal Palace vs West Ham live updates — By Nick Mendola
Crystal Palace vs West Ham final score: 5-2
Goalscorers: Olise (7'), Eze (16'), Emerson (20'), Mateta (32', 64'), Antonio (40'), Mitchell (o.g. 89')
Tyrick Mitchell own goal — Crystal Palace 5-2 West Ham (89th minute)
Dean Henderson takes his eye off a looping back pass from Tyrick Mitchell, and he’ll be owing Mitchell dinner.
Mateta again — Crystal Palace 5-1 West Ham (64th minute)
Halftime — Crystal Palace 4-1 West Ham
Palace have 65% of the ball, 13 shots to West Ham’s 3, and fotmob credits them with five big chances.
Not really close.
West Ham pull one back — Crystal Palace 4-1 West Ham (40th minute)
Is it going to survive VAR review? Yes.
Michail Antonio is just onside as he surges toward the six to score off a Tomas Soucek headed redirection off a free kick.
Five first-half goals!
Mateta! Crystal Palace 4-0 West Ham (32nd minute)
Own goal! Crystal Palace 3-0 West Ham (20th minute)
Palace is just breezing through the West Ham final third, and now the Irons are even helping with the finishing.
Olise leads a rush and Hughes remains lively. The final ball is a cross seeking Daniel Munoz at the back post but Emerson’s hopes to intervene lead to him putting the ball into his West Ham goal.
Eberechi Eze goal! Crystal Palace 2-0 West Ham (16th minute)
We are dancing (and by we, we mean Eberechi Eze).
West Ham may still be licking its Europa League exit wounds, as Olise sets Jean Philippe Mateta into the right side and he rips a low shot that Fabianski paws into the air.
Eze reacts quickly, leaping to slam an overhead kick in the goal from close range.
Michael Olise goal! Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham (7th minute)
Will Hughes knocks down a partial clearance to Joachim Andersen, the center back wide and to the left of the 18.
He crosses for the back post and Michael Olise wins a 50-50 to head past an onrushing Lukasz Fabianski.
Just like that, it’s 1-0 Palace.
USMNT back Richards returns for Palace
This is a healthier than usual Palace, albeit still without pivotal midfielder Cheick Doucoure. USMNT back Chris Richards slides into the back line and he won’t have to deal with Jarrod Bowen.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Clyne, Andersen, Richards, Munoz, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Olise, Mateta, Eze
West Ham lineup
Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Paqueta, Antonio
Crystal Palace focus, team news
Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are finally healthy together, which is tremendous news for the whole attack including Odsonne Edouard, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew, and others. Adam Wharton has been terrific in the midfield after adjusting to his new digs.
OUT: Chris Richards (knee), Marc Guehi (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Sam Johnstone (elbow), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Odsonne Edouard (knee), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh)
West Ham focus, team news
Jarrod Bowen’s health will linger over West Ham’s fate, as the Irons sparkplug has been as key to their success as anyone perhaps even surpassing Lucas Paqueta. Injuries at the back and weariness from Thursday loom over their hopes for Sunday.
OUT: Kalvin Phillips (hamstring), George Earthy (concussion) | QUESTIONABLE: Nayef Aguerd (foot), Konstantinos Mavropanos (knock), Jarrod Bowen (lower back), Alphonse Areola (groin)