Michail Antonio became the first West Ham player to score four goals in a top-flight match since David Cross in 1981 as the defeat confirms Norwich City’s relegation from the Premier League.
Norwich became the first club to be relegated from the Premier League this season as West Ham beat them 0-4 at the Carrow Road making it their seventh successive league defeat.
There were emotional scenes at Carrow Road when referee Kevin Friend signaled the end of the match. A number of Norwich players dropped to the ground while boss, Farke consoled his team.
Having spent the majority of this prolonged campaign in the bottom three, the end of the season cannot come soon enough.
Norwich struggled to adapt to the Premier League since winning the Championship last season. This would be their third relegation in seven seasons after their fate was sealed by Antonio’s superb performance in front of goal.
The forward began his incredible scoring spree in the 12th minute, firing home from close range after a corner, and added another from a set-piece just before the break, nodding home a Mark Noble free-kick.
Hammers skipper Noble also provided the ball over the top for Antonio’s hat-trick. Krul saved his initial shot but it fell invitingly for the West Ham player to head over the line. His fourth was a tap-in after Ryan Fredericks’ pass.
The win is West Ham’s first Premier League away win under David Moyes, and lifts them six points above the relegation zone, with two of their remaining three matches at home to fellow strugglers Watford and Aston Villa.
Norwich’s dreadful form since the Premier League resumed, after being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, meant it was a matter of when – not if – they would be relegated
Their 24th league defeat came after an abject performance, the Canaries failing to score for a league-high 17th game this season.
Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia tested Lukasz Fabianski while Teemu Pukki, who has not scored since netting his 11th league goal of the season on 22 January, headed a good chance wide.
Troy Deeney inspires comeback for Watford as they defeated Newcastle United
Troy Deeney steers Watford clear in the battle to stay in the Premier League after he scored two second-half penalties as Watford came from behind to beat Newcastle.
Newcastle was, by far, the better side in the first half at the Vicarage Road and got a deserved lead 23 minutes into the game when Dwight Gayle turned in Federico Fernandez’s flick from Matt Ritchie’s corner.
Watford, who hit the post through Danny Welbeck, had goalkeeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping them in the game as he made a vital save from Allan Saint-Maximim before the break – leaving them in a position to mount another recovery in the second half.
They were handed a lifeline after 52 minutes when Deeney drilled home a spot-kick after Ritchie fouled Kiko Femenia in the box. He repeated his heroics nine minutes from time after Javier Manquillo hauled down Ismaila Sarr in the box.
The win gave Watford a priceless maximum three points as they showed the same powers of recovery that saw them overturn a 1-0 deficit to beat doomed Norwich City in their previous home game. The win crucially leaves them six points clear of Bournemouth in the bottom three although the Cherries have played a game less.
Poor Norwich. Hope they bounce back.