Hammers go three up and then almost spoil it all at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace gave their worst performance of the season as their poor finishing and calamitous defending gifted West Ham a win on a silver platter. They were 3-0 down at the break as Manuel Lanzini and Michal Antonio ran riot in a little London clash, but almost directed a sensational comeback late in the second half with two goals in Fabianski's net.

Despite starting the game brightly and hitting the post through Jeffrey Schlupp, Patrick Vieira's Eagles quickly faded away as the confident Hammers danced their way to a win. Two goals in space of just three minutes midway through the first half gave the home a mountain to climb, but it was one of those days Palace couldn't scale a staircase, never mind a mountain.

Michail Antonio reacted like a world-class attacker to get onto the end of a Said Benrahma in-swinging cross to prod into the net past Vicente Guaita. Just a couple of minutes later, Lanzini showed a wonderful piece of skill to control the ball in the air and fire into the net with his left foot with Palace defenders looking on in awe.

Vieira's team pushed hard to get back into the game and came close when Odsonne Edouard rattled the crossbar just after the half-hour mark. It dawned on the noisy home faithful that this isn't going to be their day – and their captain Luka Milivojevic sealed their fate just before the break.

The Serbian midfielder handled the ball in his own box when hardly under any pressure. Although the play resumed initially, a VAR review showed what was blatantly obvious to thousands in the stands – the ball came off Milivojevic's arm.

Argentine magician Lanzini placed the ball on the spot, steadied himself down and made no mistake in beating Guaita with the last kick of the first half. It was game over.

However, the hosts were at least able to finally find the back of the net near the end, following Edouard's superb, acrobatic reaction to Olise's cross from the right, 3-1.

Soon after, the very same Olise launched a free kick from the left that somehow went all the way despite his intention to pass it to his teammates. But Fabianski's reaction was deplorable, and all of a sudden, we had an exciting finish ahead of us, 2-2.

Moreover, Palace had a splendid chance to clinch a delightful draw. Matete's impeccable volley had gone just a few inches wide for a West Ham's 3-2 win.

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 21

Saturday

Arsenal - Manchester City 1-2 (1-0)

/Saka 31 - Mahrez 57 pen, Rodri 90+3/

Watford - Tottenham 0-1 (0-0)

/Sanchez 90+3/

Crystal Palace - West Ham 2-3 (0-3)

/Edouard 83, Olise 90 - Antonio 22, Lanzini 25, 45+5/

Leicester - Norwich POSTPONED

Sunday

Southampton - Newcastle POSTPONED

17:00: (3.10) Brentford (3.20) Aston Villa (2.55)

17:00: (2.70) Everton (3.05) Brighton (3.00)

17:00: (2.05) Leeds (3.50) Burnley (3.90)

19:30: (3.00) Chelsea (3.30) Liverpool (2.55)

Monday

20:30: (1.65) Man.Utd. (3.80) Wolverhampton (6.25)

***odds are subject to change