Areola heroics set stage for West Ham’s come-from-behind Everton win

It was anyone’s game going into the final quarter. Pickford did well to deny Kudus at one end, then Ben Godfrey drove wide and Areola made two more saves, from substitutes Dominic Calvert-Lewin and André Gomes, at the other.

As the match ticked into added-time time, and with neither side in any sort of control, West Ham won it.

First, Kudus crossed deep from the right and Souček controlled on his chest before sending an unstoppable strike into the far corner with the outside of his right foot.

Then, with Everton overcommitted, Bowen led a lung-bursting counter before laying left for Mexican Álvarez to confidently clip a clinching third past the onrushing Pickford.

The players, staff and travelling fans gathered in the Bullens Stand celebrated as one in the Merseyside rain, as consecutive Premier League victories have put West Ham firmly back in the race for European qualification for a fourth straight season.

Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Tarkowski ©, Mykolenko, Harrison (André Gomes 80), Onana, Garner, McNeil (Dobbin 90+3), Doucouré (Chermiti 90+3), Beto (Calvert-Lewin 74)Subs not used: Virgínia (GK), Patterson, Keane, Young, Coleman

Goal: Beto 56

West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma ©, Emerson (Ogbonna 90+7), Souček, Álvarez, Ward-Prowse (Phillips 66), Paquetá (Antonio 80), Kudus (Kudus 90+7), BowenSubs not used: Fabiański (GK), Aguerd, Cresswell, Mubama, Ings

Goals: Zouma 62, Souček 90+1, Álvarez 90+5

Booked: Souček, Antoinio

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendance: 39,262