West Ham United vs Everton. Premier League.
London StadiumAttendance56,926.
Sunday 13 May 2018 18:14, UK
Manuel Lanzini scored twice as West Ham deservedly beat Everton 3-1 at the London Stadium to seal a first home league win over their opponents since April 2007.
Sam Allardyce endured an unhappy afternoon against his former employees as Lanzini gave the hosts a deserved lead (39) before Marko Arnautovic's swerving shot doubled the hosts' advantage (63).
Oumar Niasse pulled a goal back with a close-range finish (74), but Lanzini capped a scintillating display with a brilliant strike past Jordan Pickford via the post (82).
The Hammers finish in 13th place while the Toffees remained in eighth spot on the final day of the Premier League season.
Attention will now turn to the respective futures of David Moyes and Allardyce, who praised Lanzini after a standout performance, but his side were second best during a tired display in the capital.
Mark Noble was denied early on as Pickford produced a brilliant save low to his left after, before Niasse pounced on a mistake by Angelo Ogbonna to force Adrian into a smart stop with his legs.
Niasse's miss proved costly as seven minutes later, West Ham were in front. There was an element of good fortune about the goal as Cheikhou Kouyate's intended pass for Arnautovic ran through for Lanzini to stroke his shot low to the right of Pickford's dive.
Everton began the game by playing three at the back, and duly changed to a more familiar formation at the interval with Ramiro Funes Mori withdrawn, but they only marginally improved before West Ham extended their lead.
Edimilson Fernandes, an early substitute for the injured Arthur Masuaku, fed Arnautovic and the former Stoke City forward rolled Michael Keane before unleashing a venomous shot from 25 yards that moved in the air on its way past Pickford.
Everton responded as Adrian tipped a powerful shot from Niasse onto a post, and from the resulting corner the Senegalese forward was rewarded for his endeavour, taking down Morgan Schneiderlin's header to fire in from five yards out.
But any hopes they had of salvaging something were ended in fine style by Lanzini as he picked up Pablo Zabaleta's pass, cut inside Seamus Coleman on the left and bent a superb right-foot shot that curled beyond the outstretched Pickford and in off the post.
The Argentine was at it from the first whistle as he combined brilliantly with Arnautovic to stretch Everton on a day they were punished for experimenting with three at the back.
Two defenders were dragged towards Arnautovic as Lanzini fired in the opener, and the diminutive midfielder ended the contest in typical fashion, finding the top corner with a brilliant strike.
The 25-year-old has endured an injury-ravaged season, but this was a timely reminder of the difference he makes to this West Ham team when he's on song.
Lanzini has been directly involved in 11 Premier League goals this season (five goals, six assists), his best ever figures in an English top-flight campaign.