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Alan 1:08 Sun Apr 1
Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

BBC

Real Madrid could attempt to take Spain striker Alvaro Morata back to the Bernabeu this summer following the 25-year-old's move to Chelsea last July for a club record £60m. (Express)

Manchester United will sacrifice France forward Anthony Martial, 22, in order to buy Real Madrid and Wales international Gareth Bale, 28, this summer. (Mirror)

Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann has snubbed a move to Old Trafford in favour of Barcelona. The 27-year-old is set to remain in La Liga in an £88m switch to the Catalan giants. (Sun)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted he isn't sure whether he will be at Stamford Bridge next season. (Mail)

Chelsea are targeting Tottenham's Argentine boss Mauricio Pochettino, 46, to replace the 48-year-old Italian if he fails to see out the final year of his contract. (Sun)

The Blues will make a £30m move for Newcastle captain and English defender Jamaal Lascelles, 24, after being impressed by his leadership skills. (Mirror)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has compared full-back Kyle Walker, 27, to Bayern Munich's German great Philipp Lahm, 34. (Manchester Evening News)

Schalke have confirmed German international midfielder Max Meyer will leave the club this summer, with Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly keen on the 22-year-old. (Sun)

Arsenal are also monitoring 18-year-old Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who was in action for the Netherlands against England last week. (Mirror)

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong says he still loves Arsene Wenger, four years after leaving the club. The 26-year-old Ghanaian made just 16 first-team appearances in a 13-year-association with the London side. (Telegraph)

The Gunners have bolstered security at the Emirates ahead of their Europa League tie with CSKA Moscow on Thursday. Arsenal fans travelling to Moscow for the return leg the following week will also be heavily marshalled. (Express)

Liverpool's Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren, 28, says he knows boss Jurgen Klopp believes in him despite his own fluctuating confidence. (Times - subscription required)

Team-mate Mo Salah unofficially came third in Egypt's presidential elections after more than one million people spoiled their ballot paper to vote for the Liverpool forward, 25. (Talksport)

England manager Gareth Southgate will reportedly favour either Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford or Stoke's Jack Butland, with Burnley duo Tom Heaton or Nick Pope taking the third spot ahead of West Ham loanee Joe Hart in the World Cup squad. (Mirror)

Crystal Palace defender and Senegal international Pape Souare, 27, has been forced to enter into a voluntary insolvency arrangement. (Mail)

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez says his side's much-improved home form has made the difference to their Premier League campaign. (Northern Echo)







Mail

West Ham 3-0 Southampton: Marko Arnautovic gets his own back on Mark Hughes as first-half brace lifts Hammers five points clear of the relegation zone

Joao Mario fires West Ham into the lead with his first goal for the club after pouncing on a rebounded shot
Marko Arnautovic doubles the lead after just 17 minutes to settle a tense atmosphere in the London Stadium
The Austrian forward scores a sweet volley in first-half injury time to cap an excellent opening 45 minutes
Arnautovic made a gesture towards Mark Hughes, who questioned his move to West Ham earlier this week
West Ham's Michail Antonio appears to leave the field in tears after sustaining an injury early in the first half

By Sami Mokbel

Scoring three times in 45 minutes has a funny way of uniting a football club. Football’s a fickle game isn’t it?

It may turn out that West Ham’s victory over Southampton merely papers over the cracks of this divided club.

This time, though, there were no scenes of anarchy. Just the impression that - for at least 90 minutes - this club was as one.


West Ham players celebrate in front of the subdued travelling Southampton fans after Marko Arnautovic makes it 3-0 lead


Arnautovic celebrates his second of the game and West Ham's third as the Hammers stroll to victory on Saturday afternoon

>img src=http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/31/16/4AB914B100000578-5565015-image-a-55_1522510733359.jpg width=700>
Arnautovic scored West Ham's second goal of the game from close range just 17 minutes into the first half


The Austrian sealed the three points with a fine volley on the stroke of half-time to boost their chances of avoiding relegation


Arnautovic makes a point to the Southampton manager with his crossed arms representing West Ham's club crest

Who knows, had Southampton taken the lead then history may have repeated itself such is the undercurrent of ill-feeling towards those that run West Ham from fans.

But thankfully for David Moyes - and the board - it didn't come to that; two goals from Marko Arnautovic and Joao Mario’s first for West Ham securing a vital win in their fight for survival.

In the grand scheme of things this win won’t repair the fractious relationship between fans and the club’s top brass. But it’s a start.

For Mark Hughes, though, things are looking bleak. On his Premier League debut for Southampton, the size of the task in front of him was laid bare.

Southampton were clueless. Feeble in the tackle. Uninventive in attack. Everything their new manager was not as a player.

If he didn’t know it already, many of Hughes’ new charges wouldn't have been up to lacing their new manager’s boots during his playing days.


Michail Antonio receives medical attention after sustaining an injury in the opening minutes of the game


Mark Noble attempts to console his team-mate as he leaves the field in apparent tears with the injury


Joao Mario first past Fraser Forster to give his side the lead after 13 minutes and ease tension in the stands


The Portugal international celebrates in front of the packed London Stadium stands after scoring West Ham's first goal

Simply put: Southampton are bang in trouble. With Arsenal and Chelsea next up, it’s hard to predict a sudden surge of improvement either.

And as if the afternoon wasn’t bad enough for Hughes, the fact Arnautovic did the majority of the damage simply rubbed salt into the wounds.

Having worked together at Stoke; the pair were involved in an unsavoury spat when West Ham travelled to the Bet 365 Stadium earlier this season.

This afternoon, Arnautovic had the last laugh. He let his former manager know it too.

The Austrian was a monster for his team in this relegation scrap. And while he’ll never admit it, how Hughes could do with a player like Arnautovic right now.

Moyes’ answer to those highly-charged scenes at the London Stadium three weeks ago which saw home fans invade the pitch and threaten owners David Sullivan and David Gold as the team slumped to defeat to Burnley was to take his player to Miami.

In terms of PR, it perhaps wasn’t the wisest of moves as players were photographed lapping up the Florida sun on South Beach just days after that calamitous display.


Marko Arnautovic fires in from close range to double West Ham's lead just 17 minutes into the first half


West Ham players celebrate with the Austria international after taking a three-goal lead against Southampton on Saturday


Joe Hart celebrates after seeing his side score three times in the first half against their relegation rivals

But judging by his players’ performance, it may prove a masterstroke. Indeed, there seemed a togetherness about his players against the Saints - illustrated by the fact every player barring goalkeeper Joe Hart - rushed over to celebrate Arnautovic’s second.

Moyes’ men started brightly, Alex McCarthy parrying Arthur Masuaku’s effort from a tight angle after good work from Michail Antonio on the opposite flank.

But Antonio’s afternoon would come to an abrupt end just moments later as he limped off in tears after what looked a muscular injury to his left leg.

The attacker, who has been beset by injury problems this season, pulled his shirt over his face in an effort to disguise his emotion, captain Mark Noble trying to console his team-mate as he trudged off in the ninth minute.

Four minutes late, though, Antonio’s mood would have improved considerably as his team took the lead.

It all stemmed from Mario Lemina giving the ball away to Noble in midfield. Two passes later, Mario was steadying himself on the edge of the area before blasting past McCarthy.

The London Stadium erupted. So did the West Ham bench; Moyes throwing his fists in the air with the grimace of a man who has the world on his shoulders.


Southampton's Wesley Hoedt has a heated discussion with West Ham's Arnautovic as the game continues on Saturday


West Ham captain Noble tries to evade the tackle of Southampton star Nathan Redmond as the match continues on Saturday


Arnautovic receives a standing ovation from the London Stadium crowd as he is substituted for Jordan Hugill late in the game

And slowly the tension alleviated off Moyes men.

Arnautovic should have scored just two minutes later, firing wide from close range after Noble unlocked the Saints’ ragged defence.

But the Austrian didn’t have to wait much longer before getting in the scoresheet. Just a minute in fact; the centre-forward firing home from close range after McCarthy produced a point-blank stop to deny his original header from Mario’s cross.

Arnautovic looked to be directing his animated celebration towards Hughes, his rift with the Welshman obviously still lingering in his mind.

Not that those in the West Ham directors box gave a hoot about any animosity between Hughes and Arnautovic. They’ve got their own conflicts to deal with.

And when Arnautovic volleyed home Masuaku’s brilliant pass in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time to complete the scoring, his feud with Hughes boiled over again as the Austrian appeared to direct a verbal tongue-lashing at his ex-boss.

This time Hughes kept his cool. Of course, he has far bigger problems.


Extra security staff stand to attention in case fans attempt to repeat the on-field protests during West Ham's last home game


West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan takes refuge behind a glass barrier after missiles were thrown at him during the last game

MATCH FACTS

WEST HAM XI: Hart 6.5; Zabaleta 7, Rice 7.5, Ogbonna 7, Cresswell 7; Antonio 6 (Fernandes 9, 7), Noble 7.5, Kouyate 8 (Cullen 89), Masuaku 7; Mario 8, Arnautovic 8.5.

Subs not used: Adrian, Evra, Pask, Diangana.

Goals: Mario 13; Arnautovic 17, 45.

Manager: David Moyes.

SOUTHAMPTON XI: McCarthy 5; Soares 5, Stephens 5, Hoedt 5, Bertrand 6; Tadic 5, Lemina 5, Hojberg 5, Redmond 5.5 (Boufal 67, 5); Austin 5 (Carrillo 83) Gabbiadini 4 (Long 46, 5).

Subs not used: Forster, Yoshida, Romeu, Ward-Prowse.

Bookings: Lemina, Bertrand, Tadic.

Manager: Mark Hughes.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.



Mail

West Ham victory was enough to ease the tension at the London Stadium and prevent more shameful scenes

London Stadium was fortified with extra police and security staff on Saturday
West Ham wanted to avoid a repeat of the shameful scenes against Burnley
But a dominant performance against Southampton lifted the dark cloud

By Will Jeanes

In the end it was West Ham's much-improved performance and not the £60,000 spent on extra security that prevented the shameful scenes of three weeks ago being repeated.

It's not every game where all of the stewards are equipped with football boots and safety goggles, but they weren't put to use as the crowd at the London Stadium revelled in a vibrant attacking display seldom seen since the move to the new ground.

Joao Mario opened the scoring for the Hammers after 13 minutes and from there they didn't look back - Marko Arnautovic scored a first-half brace, producing a particularly nice finish for the second of those goals.


The football on display was more than enough to temper the pressure at London Stadium

It was only West Ham's second home win since the beginning of January and goodness did they need it - for more reasons than one.

An uninspiring season has seen them flirt with the relegation and, perhaps more pertinently given what happened against Burnley, the discontent in the crowd has always been more pronounced when the team struggles on the pitch.

However, with West Ham two goals up inside fifteen minutes, the fans barely had a chance to start getting restless. This time around they directed all of their energy towards supporting their players, and not, like at their last home game, at showing the directors just how much contempt they hold them in.

After the opening goal one fan climbed over the barrier and into the stewards but only to turn and celebrate wildly with the fans in front of him - an altogether different type of pitch invasion to the game before.

The difference between the game and West Ham's last one where five fans were handed lifetime bans for running on the pitch, really couldn't have been clearer. The atmosphere was pleasant, buoyant even at times.

Indeed, the closest there came to any trouble was between Nathan Redmond and Cheikhou Kouyate - the pair squaring up to each other and exchanging pushes in the first half.

If the fans stay completely behind the team and they keep playing like this, there is no reason they can't be a top-eight team next season and perhaps the grumbles about the stadium will come to an end if the team consistently perform all season and lead the club towards the pastures they were promised by the board as a result of the stadium move.

They are now five points clear of the drop zone, and on the evidence of this comfortable victory the gap should be much wider.

As for Southampton, they offered very little all afternoon and there are now serious concerns that the South Coast side could be playing in the Championship next season for the first time in six years.




Guardian

Marko Arnautovic double lifts West Ham and sinks Southampton

Jacob Steinberg at the London Stadium

What a relief it was for the West Ham hierarchy that the only boos at the London Stadium floated out of the away end. There were no pitch invasions, no missiles thrown at the directors’ box. David Gold and David Sullivan were able to keep Sir Trevor Brooking company until the final whistle this time and if there was a hint of mutiny, it came from the Southampton fans who watched their bedraggled team sink closer towards the Championship on an afternoon when the hosts found a way to keep their bitter civil war hidden from their guests.

Of course, it should be pointed out that Southampton did not even begin to flirt with the idea of testing the strength of West Ham’s truce. Mark Hughes’s side wilted in the face of some vintage East End defiance, collapsing in wretched fashion in the opening 45 minutes and wasting a fine opportunity to move out of the bottom three at the expense of their opponents.

David Moyes could not have asked for a better response from his players. The mavericks in his team rose to the occasion, with Marko Arnautovic and João Mário tearing the visitors to shreds, and the victory moved them five points above Southampton, who are two behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace with seven matches left.

One look around this unloved stadium was enough to revive memories of the pitch invasions and protests that marred the Burnley game. Stewards in bright yellow jackets lined the perimeter of the pitch, there was a sizeable police presence inside the ground and barriers below the directors’ box were intended to stop supporters from getting too close to Gold and Sullivan, West Ham’s unpopular owners.

The operation added £60,000 to the security bill, which was footed by taxpayers, and amid all the focus on events in the stands it was almost possible to forget that a game of football was taking place. It began in a lively atmosphere, signalling the crowd’s determination to remain supportive, and West Ham tore into the early challenges, rattling Southampton with energetic pressing.

Mark Hughes picked an attacking 4-4-2 for his first league game, with Charlie Austin fit enough to start up front for the first time since tearing a hamstring on 23 December, but Southampton’s lack of intensity in midfield and organisation in defence in the first half was startling. West Ham roared forward and took the lead when Mario Lemina cheaply lost possession in the 13th minute, allowing Cheikhou Kouyaté to charge down the right and find Mário, who controlled before walloping a brilliant shot past Alex McCarthy.

Mário’s first goal since arriving on loan from Internazionale in January shocked the visitors. West Ham’s bench contained four players without a single Premier League start and Moyes could have done without an inconsolable Michail Antonio limping off in the ninth minute, especially with Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Javier Hernández already unavailable. Yet Southampton were too feeble to expose those weaknesses.

Arnautovic had already spurned one glorious opportunity, screwing a shot wide after being released by Mark Noble, but the forward’s eighth goal of the season arrived in the 17th minute. The marking from Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens left much to be desired when Mário crossed from the right and although McCarthy saved Arnautovic’s initial header, the Austrian bundled in the rebound.

Hughes looked disgusted on the touchline. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Lemina were overrun in midfield, Dusan Tadic and Nathon Redmond sunk into their shells on the flanks and Southampton’s fans greeted Jon Moss’s half-time whistle with jeers.

In Southampton’s defence, perhaps it was simply their misfortune to be caught in the middle of Arnautovic’s feud with Hughes. Arnautovic enraged the former Stoke City manager when he inspired West Ham to a 3-0 victory over his old side in December and he was at it his cocky best here, scoring his second in added time with a spectacular volley. A deep cross from Arthur Masuaku, who impressed at left wing-back after returning from a six-match ban for spitting, hung in the air and Arnautovic’s vicious effort flew past McCarthy.

Shane Long replaced Manolo Gabbiadini at half-time, but Southampton did nothing to test Joe Hart’s brittle confidence. The day passed off peacefully in the end.





Telegraph

Marko Arnautovic lifts gloom around London Stadium as Saints remain in drop zone

Gerry Cox, London Stadium

Crisis, what crisis? In the end, the only extra security needed at the London Stadium was in the away dressing room to protect Southampton's players from their manager Mark Hughes, as West Ham cruised to an emphatic win that banished the bad memories of their defeat by Burnley three weeks ago.

Three goals in a one-sided first-half put West Ham in complete control and ensured there would be no repeat of those shameful scenes when home supporters invaded the pitch and protested angrily against the club's owners following their 3-0 defeat by Sean Dyche's side.

That result had left West Ham in 17th place, only two points above Southampton, meaning a fourth straight defeat on Saturday would have left the east Londoners in the relegation zone, and their fans even unhappier. Thus the increased security in and around the stadium for this match, with extra police drafted in, barriers erected in front of the directors' seating, and more stewards than ever.

The array of luminous hi-vis jackets was complemented by day-glo boots for some of the stewards on the touchline, presumably to give them more grip in case they needed to chase off pitch invaders.

In the event, it was Southampton's players who could have done with being more sure-footed, as they allowed West Ham to race into an early two-goal lead that banished all fears of crowd trouble.

When Marko Arnautovic scored his second goal in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0, the result was beyond doubt and the atmosphere was positively bubbling.

“I thought the fans showed they were with the club and the team,” said a relieved David Moyes afterwards. “The players said they wanted to show what they could do. This was a big game for us and I thought we were terrific, especially in that opening part of the game.”

Mark Hughes, meanwhile, lamented the 'catastrophic' mistakes from his players that allowed West Ham to take a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes and effectively seal victory by half-time in what was his first Premier League game since taking over from Mauricio Pellegrino last month.

“I'm disappointed to say the least and it was not what we were anticipating. It was not the level you need at this level. We conceded three very poor goals through catastrophic errors, which have been prevalent for some time. That's why we find ourselves in this situation unfortunately.

“We didn't give West Ham a game today. It was not what we intended, and not what we need to do to affect a West Ham side who were able to win the game comfortably because we gave them an easy start.”

Despite all the pre-match concerns, there was no shortage of positivity around the place and both sets of supporters were in good voice before kick-off. West Ham started strongly but had a setback after only six minutes when Michail Antonio had to go off with what looked like a hamstring injury. “I haven't seen the full extent of it since the game but it looks like a bad hamstring injury,” added Moyes.

That setback did not deter West Ham from going with gusto at Southampton, who were woeful and could only blame themselves for the opening goals. The first originated from a Southampton corner, which appeared too complicated and ended with Mario Lemina losing possession 25 yards from West Ham's goal. Cheikhou Kouyate surged forward down the right before firing a low cross, which Joao Mario controlled neatly before shooting high into the net off Alex McCarthy's gloves.

It was the Portuguese playmaker's first goal for the club since signing on loan from Inter Milan in January.

The bubbles from West Ham's pitchside machine had barely subsided when they doubled their lead. Arnautovic went close soon after that goal, exchanging passes with Mark Noble but then lifting the ball wide of goal from close range.

But the Austrian made amends moments later when he poked the ball home from close range. This time Pierre-Emile Hjojberg was Southampton's culprit, losing the ball in a dangerous area inside his own half and allowing the excellent Joao Mario to deliver a tempting cross for Arnautovic. The striker powered his header straight at McCarthy, but had the composure to reach the loose ball first and stroke it calmly over the line.

West Ham fans were in heaven, and Arnautovic made a point of celebrating in front of Hughes, who had criticised the player's supposed lack of ambition when selling him from Stoke to West Ham last summer. Arnautovic made a beeline towards the Southampton manager and crossed his arms across his chest defiantly, while appearing to shout at Hughes, who played down the incident afterwards.

“My relationship with Marko when I worked with him at Stoke was very good, so you'll have to ask him about that [goal celebration]. I don't know if he was pointing at me or was just excited by scoring. He played exceptionally well today, as he did in four-and-a-half years with me at Stoke."

To emphasise the point, Arnautovic scored his second and West Ham's third in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when Arthur Masuaku delivered a delicious cross from the left, leaving the Austrian with a far-post volley, which he executed superbly.

West Ham's players left the field at half-time to a well-deserved standing ovation, and although Southampton showed more intent after the break, they could not prevent Joe Hart from achieving his first clean-sheet since September. Gareth Southgate was watching, along with Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, who gave a debut to Declan Rice last week. The young defender was born in England but has Irish grandparents, and is still eligible for both countries.

Moyes was unable to shed much light on the situation, saying “My understanding is he wants to play for Ireland, but he played very well today. Centre-half is the hardest position for a young players in the Premier League, but I thought he gave us some breathing space today.”

West Ham also have breathing space in the table now with this result moving them up to 14th place, five points clear of Southampton, whose situation looks increasingly desperate.

More importantly, victory also went some way to repairing West Ham's relationship with their supporters and reputation as a club.




Mirror

AC Milan battling Manchester United and Liverpool for West Ham wonderkid Domingos Quina

Portuguese starlet Quina, 18, is seen as one of Europe’s best young prospects

By John Cross


Domingos Quina has caught the eye (Image: Arfa Griffiths)

Italian giants AC Milan have been keeping tabs on West Ham wonderkid Domingos Quina.

Portuguese starlet Quina, 18, is seen as one of Europe’s best young prospects and has attracted interest from top clubs like AC Milan, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Quina will enter into the final year of his contract this summer and chances have been limited at West Ham because they are stuck in a relegation scrap.

That has alerted AC Milan who are watching developments closely and will decide whether to make a move this summer.

West Ham may have to rebuild their squad at the end of the season - even if they stay up in the Premier League.

Quina made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old in the Europa League last season and has also featured in this campaign's Football League Trophy, Carabao and FA Cups.

However, the youngster is still awaiting his first Premier League appearance.

jimbo2. 1:19 Mon Apr 2
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Ta muchly Al, what a great weekend!

The Stoat 9:15 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Joao Mario first past Fraser Forster to give his side the lead after 13 minutes and ease tension in the stands


FORSTER wasn't playing !!

Texas Iron 5:10 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Cheers...
Good to see Positive Press...
🤠

BubblesCyprus 4:16 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Alan much appreciated.

ted fenton 3:04 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Alan 1:18 Sun Apr 1

gph 2:03 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks, Alan.

I'm keener to see more of Quina, than to flog him.

Gidds 1:19 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Cheers Alan

Thanks Alan 1:18 Sun Apr 1
Re: Sunday newspapers (includes West Ham)

Thanks Alan