David Moyes questions decision to make Man United play two rivals in the space of 48 hours

‘A lot was made about integrity’: David Moyes questions Premier League’s decision to make Manchester United play two of West Ham’s Champions League rivals in the space of 48 hours

  • West Ham lost 1-0 to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
  • The result leaves them five points adrift of the top four with four left to play 
  • Man United face top four rivals Liverpool on Tuesday and Leicester  on Thursday
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned he will play a weakened side in one of them

David Moyes has questioned the Premier League’s decision to force Manchester United into playing twice in 48 hours against two of West Ham’s Champions League rivals.

Sunday’s loss to Everton leaves the Hammers’ facing a mountain to climb in their bid to overtake Leicester in fourth place.

Ironically, Manchester United, Moyes’ former club, will hold the key to West Ham’s hopes of finishing in the top-four as they face Leicester on Tuesday before hosting fifth-placed Liverpool on Thursday.

The Premier League have rearranged the clash against Jurgen Klopp’s men, which was postponed last weekend due to the supporter protests at Old Trafford, just two days after United’s game against the Foxes.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned he will play a weakened side in one of this week’s games given the rapid turnaround.

And Moyes said: ‘It was really interesting when we were coming back (from the coronavirus lockdown), a lot was made about integrity.

‘Ole can do what he likes with his team, but I don’t know if there was a better way to sort the fixtures out.

‘Manchester United can always put out a strong team.’

When asked whether the rescheduling of the United versus Liverpool fixture raises integrity issues, Moyers replied: ‘The Premier League should be answering these questions.’

On West Ham’s Champions League hopes, Moyes added: ‘Our chances of the Champions League are looking slim, but we’ll keep fighting.

‘I’d set my target and I knew where we had to go, and defeat might be costly for us but you never know in football, we might be saying something different in time.’

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti feels the win kept his team in the hunt for European qualification, saying: ‘It was vital, because if not, we are out of the race for Europe. It’s another vital game against Aston Villa on Thursday.’