West Ham’s Phillips Endures Disastrous Debut by Gifting Solanke a Goal
West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips had a nightmare start to his career at the London Stadium as he gifted Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke an early goal. Making his debut for the Hammers after joining on loan from Manchester City, the 28-year-old found himself under pressure following a loose pass by Kurt Zouma.
In an attempt to guide the ball back to his goalkeeper, Phillips was caught off guard as Solanke seized the opportunity and stole the ball, scoring within just three minutes of the game. Initially, the officials flagged Solanke as offside, but VAR intervened and allowed the goal to stand.
Phillips had been hoping for more game time after a lackluster spell at Manchester City, where he managed only 89 minutes in the Premier League across four substitute appearances. Joining David Moyes’ side for the remainder of the 2023/24 season was seen as an opportunity to boost his chances of making it into the Euro 2024 squad.
Unfortunately, his first start in the Premier League this season began on a sour note. However, fans on social media were quick to shift some of the blame onto Zouma, claiming that his pass had put Phillips in a difficult position. One fan pointed out, “That’s on Zouma, atrocious pass,” while another added, “Zouma’s fault.” A third fan criticized Zouma for playing a “hospital ball.”
Despite the disappointing start, it is worth noting that Dominic Solanke continues to shine with his impressive form this season. The Bournemouth striker has now scored 13 goals in the Premier League, placing him among the top goal-scorers in the league. Only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored more goals than Solanke this season.
Phillips will undoubtedly be hoping to bounce back from this setback and make a positive impact in the remainder of his loan spell at West Ham. With his eyes on securing a place in the Euro 2024 squad, he will be eager to prove his worth and contribute to the team’s success. As for Solanke, his brilliant campaign shows no signs of slowing down, as he continues to find the back of the net and impress fans and pundits alike.