West Ham vs Aston Villa – LIVE!

West Ham edged out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. The Hammers started the day in the bottom three but moved above the dotted line on goal difference after being frustrated at the London Stadium.

A point leaves West Ham in the thick of a relegation battle and keeps the spotlight on David Moyes, who will see this as an opportunity missed. West Ham fell behind after 17 minutes when Alex Moreno whipped in a cross from the left and Ollie Watkins capitalised on some slack marking to head past Alphonse Areola.

The Hammers equalised on 26 minutes when Lucas Paqueta went over under challenge from Leon Bailey and Said Benrahma thumped a penalty past Emiliano Martinez. West Ham had chances to win the game in the second half but Benrahma and substitute Pablo Fornals both fluffed their lines and the home side had to settle for a point.

West Ham vs Aston Villa latest news

• GOAL! Watkins heads Villa ahead

• GOAL! Benrahma equalises from the penalty spot

West Ham United FC 1 - 1 Aston Villa FC

16:14 , Giuseppe Muro

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma told Sky Sports: “I think it should have been three points. We played a good game and had many chances but just couldn’t score. Obviously we need to get wins.

“That was their only chance and they scored. We kept the focus and the belief to come back. We should have won but we got a point and need to move on.”

Full-time: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa

15:58 , Giuseppe Muro

All over at the London Stadium and West Ham have to settle for a point. A few boos at the end. The Hammers edge outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

15:53 , Giuseppe Muro

90+2 mins: Cornet goes clean though but his weak effort is easily saved by Martinez. But he was offside anyway, and I think he knew it.

15:51 , Giuseppe Muro

90 mins: Into six minutes of stoppage time

15:51 , Giuseppe Muro

89 mins: Big chance for Villa from a corner but Duran can’t get much on it and Areola is able to gather.

15:48 , Giuseppe Muro

86 mins: Benrahma has his 10th shot of the game... this one is blocked by Young.

15:46 , Giuseppe Muro

85 mins: Cornet on for Igns for the final five minutes.

15:45 , Giuseppe Muro

84 mins: Another good chance for West Ham! It’s Benrahma this time but he also fluffs his lines.

15:44 , Giuseppe Muro

82 mins: Chance for West Ham! Great running from Bowen but Fornals gets it all wrong and he can’t test Martinez.

15:40 , Giuseppe Muro

79 mins: Almost an instant chance for Fornals but his touch lets him down.

15:38 , Giuseppe Muro

77 mins: Fornals on for Paqueta, who went straight down the tunnel but is now back on the bench.

15:36 , Giuseppe Muro

75 mins: Into the final 15 minutes at the London Stadium. Can West Ham find a winner?

15:34 , Giuseppe Muro

72 mins: Penalty appeal! Rice gives the ball away on the edge of the area and then Villa want a penalty after he fouls Buendia. VAR has a look but no penalty is given. Buendia is still down though and there is a melee between the two sets of players.

15:31 , Giuseppe Muro

70 mins: First yellow card of the game goes to Paqueta

15:30 , Giuseppe Muro

69 mins: Another ball over the top puts West Ham on the attack but Benrahma hits a tame effort straight at Martinez.

15:27 , Giuseppe Muro

66 mins: Benrahma at the heart of everything West Ham are doing at the moment. He beats two men on the left but his cross is gathered by Martinez.

15:25 , Giuseppe Muro

64 mins: Double change for Villa: Traore and Digne for Moreno and Bailey.

15:22 , Giuseppe Muro

60 mins: West Ham are getting real joy with ball over the top in hind the high Villa backline. Benrahma is in again and wins another corner, which is cleared behind for another corner, which Emerson pokes behind at the back post.

15:19 , Giuseppe Muro

Can West Ham find a breakthrough?

15:17 , Giuseppe Muro

57 mins: Close from Benrahma! He cuts back onto his right foot and forces a decent save from Martinez, who tips the ball over for a corner. Benrahma is looking really dangerous. More encouragement for West Ham.

15:15 , Giuseppe Muro

54 mins: It’s been a decent start to the second half from West Ham. A shot from distance from McGinn goes well wide.

15:12 , Giuseppe Muro

51 mins: Just wide from Benrahma! A great break from West Ham leads to a chance for Benrahma, who cuts inside onto his right foot and curls an effort inches wide of the far post

15:10 , Giuseppe Muro

48 mins: Buendia shoots but gets it all wrong and the ball sails miles over.

15:07 , Giuseppe Muro

46 mins: Early chance for West Ham as Benrahma volleys straight at Martinez at the back post. Again, the West Ham man could have done a bit better there.

15:05 , Giuseppe Muro

46 mins: We’re back underway at the London Stadium. No changes from either side at the break. A big 45 minutes coming up for West Ham…

14:58 , Giuseppe Muro

14:53 , Giuseppe Muro

So as things stands, West Ham are moving outside the relegation zone on goal difference. A point would move the Hammers up to 17th. This game is there for the taking though...

Half-time: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa

14:49 , Giuseppe Muro

West Ham finish the half strongly but Villa survive a few late corners and it’s all-square at the break.

14:45 , Giuseppe Muro

42 mins: Great save by Areola... but Watkins should score! Moreno crosses from the left and Watkins looks poised to poke home from two yards out but the ball gets stuck under his feet and his weak effort is saved by Areola. That’s a let-off for the West Ham.

14:42 , Giuseppe Muro

40 mins: West Ham win a corner, which is cleared as far as Benrahma on the edge of the area and he shoots well over.

14:40 , Giuseppe Muro

38 mins: Good defending from Aguerd, who hooks clear a cross inside the six-yard box with Watkins waiting too pounce.

14:39 , Giuseppe Muro

37 mins: West Ham win the ball high up the pitch but Benrahma shoots straight at Martinez from outside the area. Comfortable for the Villa goalkeeper.

14:37 , Giuseppe Muro

35 mins: Villa’s high line is crying out for someone to spot a pass and find a run in behind.

14:36 , Giuseppe Muro

34 mins: Watkins gets in chance of Zouma but hooks an effort straight at Areola.

14:35 , Giuseppe Muro

West Ham have joined Fulham as teams to have been awarded the most penalties in this Premier League season (seven). The Hammers scored five of these.

14:34 , Giuseppe Muro

A big goal from this man...

14:33 , Giuseppe Muro

31 mins: Zouma heads wide. West Ham would climb out of the relegation zone with a point but they want all three.

GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa | Said Benrahma 26’

14:30 , Giuseppe Muro

Benrahma makes no mistake from the spot as he thumps a penalty past Emiliano Martinez to equalise for the Hammers. Game on!

Penalty to West Ham!

14:26 , Giuseppe Muro

Huge chance to equalise for the Hammers. A clumsy challenge from Bailey inside the box on Paqueta. Benrahma staning over it...

14:25 , Giuseppe Muro

23 mins: Good running from Bowen wins a corner on the right. Bowen is going Moreno real problems, he’s been West Ham’s best attacking outlet so far.

14:24 , Giuseppe Muro

20 mins: You can sense the tension around the London Stadium now. It’s been a pretty flat start from West Ham in what is a huge game in their season. The goal has lifted Villa. Can the Hammers respond?

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Aston Villa | Ollie Watkins 18’

14:19 , Giuseppe Muro

Moreno whips in a class cross from the left and Watkins capitalises on some slack marking to head Villa ahead with their first chance.

The problems mount for David Moyes.

14:19 , Giuseppe Muro

16 mins: Ings flagged offside. Villa are playing a high line and there is plenty of space in behind if West Ham can get it right.

14:16 , Giuseppe Muro

13 mins: First chance for West Ham… and Benrahma should be doing better there. Bowen does brilliantly down the right to beat his man and stand up a cross to the back post, Benrahma runs onto it but gets his volley horribly wrong. Benrahma should have hit the target.

14:14 , Giuseppe Muro

12 mins: West Ham win a corner on the left, which is cleared. It’s been a very cagey start.

14:11 , Giuseppe Muro

8 mins: Villa seem to be trying to just take the string out of the game early on to keep the home crowd quiet. So far, it’s working. It’s all pretty flat.

14:08 , Giuseppe Muro

6 mins: A flat cross from Rice goes all the way across the goal and Aguerd prods behind at the back post.

14:07 , Giuseppe Muro

5 mins: Better from West Ham, who put together a few passes which leads to Bowen winning a free kick in a crossing position on the right.

14:06 , Giuseppe Muro

4 mins: A cautious start from both sides. The fans inside the stadium are just waiting for something to happen.

14:04 , Giuseppe Muro

2 mins: Villa enjoying plenty of possession early on. But it’s all in their own half. West Ham have sat back a lot this season but if they can press a bit higher up the pitch they could force the issue more today.

Kick-off!

14:02 , Giuseppe Muro

We’re underway at the London Stadium! A huge 90 minutes coming up for West Ham...

13:59 , Giuseppe Muro

Here come the two teams...

Huge game for West Ham

13:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

Last chance for David Moyes’ side to pull themselves out of the relegation zone before the international break...

Rice apologies to West Ham fans for Brighton loss as Moyes battles on

13:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

Declan Rice apologised to West Ham fans after an abject 4-0 defeat at Brighton turned up the heat on David Moyes.

West Ham put in a deeply concerning display at the Amex on Saturday to leave them teetering back on the brink of the relegation zone.

“It’s a cliche to say it was not good enough but you have to apologise to the fans because we have let them and the club down,” said Hammers captain Rice.

Read the full story here!

Moyes embracing another European adventure with West Ham: ‘Not a bad achievement’

13:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes has told his West Ham players to “embrace and enjoy” their European adventure after they took a huge step towards the Europa Conference League quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over AEK Larnaca.

The Hammers are enduring a torrid Premier League campaign and are just one point of the relegation zone, but picked up where they left off before Christmas with a ninth successive victory in Uefa competition this season.

Read the full story here!

Confirmed Aston Villa lineup

13:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Confirmed West Ham lineup

13:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

Areola: Antonio ‘ready’ for West Ham striker battle after Larnaca brace

12:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

Alphonse Areola believes Michail Antonio’s vital double in Thursday night’s win over AEK Larnaca is proof that the forward is “ready for the battle” in the race to be West Ham’s no9 during the run-in.

Antonio’s first-half strikes earned a 2-0 victory that has David Moyes’ side firmly in control of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie ahead of next week’s second leg at the London Stadium.

Read the full story here!

Moyes backs Ings to be the difference

12:35 , Alex Young

David Moyes believes Danny Ings can fire West Ham to Premier League survival, starting against his old club Aston Villa this afternoon.

Ings joined the Hammers in January for £12million to boost a shot-shy attack and already has two goals to his name.

"He could be crucial," said Moyes. "We're needing a goalscorer, we're needing someone who can link us up and keep the ball better and play at different times.

"There will be plenty of games where I need Mick's [Michail Antonio] sort of robustness and working down the sides of people and round the box, so there will be games where we need that. We will have to pick and choose where and when we think it will be right to play them both or play them as individuals.

"It's always a difficult one when you're returning to your old club or you're playing against your old club, sometimes it can go big in your favour, sometimes it can't, it's just the way it is, you never know how it works out.

"If anybody would know much about Aston Villa it would be Danny, but obviously they will know plenty about Danny as well so it works both ways. We want to get Danny in the goals."

Emery hopes Villa take advantage

12:18 , Alex Young

Unai Emery hopes Aston Villa can take advantage of West Ham's European exertions.

Villa head to the London Stadium on Sunday, having had a free week, while the Hammers travelled to Cyprus to take on AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League.

Emery, who won the Europa League with Villarreal in 2021, knows how tough competing in Europe and maintaining a strong league challenge can be.

"They are near the bottom of the league, but I know from my experiences that to try and get the same performances when you're playing Premier League, playing cups and playing Europe with a lot of matches, it's difficult," Emery said on the club's official website.

"We are going to play against teams like West Ham, like Bournemouth next week, and they are playing under the pressure of trying to escape the bottom of the table. That is not our focus - our focus is how we can play, how we can manage 90 minutes, trying to play with our idea."

Last time out

12:07 , Alex Young

West Ham welcome Aston Villa to east London fresh from a convincing win over Larnaca in Cyprus.

Two goals from Michail Antonio had the game done by half-time, with a second leg to come next week.

Read Mailk Ouzia’s report from the AEK Arena.

Score prediction

11:58 , Alex Young

West Ham are still far from convincing, with that midweek win in Cyprus not enough to suggest that a return to form could be imminent for Moyes’ side.

Villa meanwhile will be eyeing a top-half finish under Unai Emery, though they too have been relatively inconsistent. A nervy draw could be on the cards.

Draw, 1-1.

Aston Villa team news

11:49 , Alex Young

Philippe Coutinho is not expected to return for Aston Villa until after the international break, while Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos are also still out.

Leander Dendoncker is a doubt with a hand injury, which Emery said was picked up in a “domestic accident” at home.

West Ham team news

11:42 , Alex Young

Michail Antonio picked up a calf knock in midweek after scoring a brace in West Ham’s win over Larnaca, while there are slight injury concerns over Flynn Downes (ankle) and Lucas Paqueta (calf) too. None of those are believed to be serious issues though.

Lukasz Fabianski remains out and a heel injury is still a problem for Vladimir Coufal, but Danny Ings is fit and pushing for a start against his former side.

Where to watch

11:35 , Alex Young

TV channel and live stream: The match will not be broadcast live in the UK.

This is because it was originally scheduled for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, but was moved due to West Ham’s progress in the Europa Conference League.

Welcome

10:40 , Alex Young

Good morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Kick-off from London Stadium is at 2pm GMT. Stick with us.