West Ham 3–2 Burnley: A Thrilling Premier League Clash at London Stadium
Introduction
On 8 November 2025, London Stadium played host to a fascinating Premier League encounter between West Ham and Burnley. With both sides looking to climb the table, this match promised to be a tightly contested affair. In the end, West Ham clinched a narrow 3–2 victory, thanks to a late surge that turned the game in their favour.
Tactical Analysis
From our analysis, West Ham started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek anchoring the midfield. Burnley, under the guidance of S. Parker, lined up in a 4-1-4-1, aiming to frustrate the Hammers with a compact, disciplined defence and quick counter‑attacks.
West Ham’s tactical approach was to press high and utilise the width of Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen. Burnley, however, remained resolute at the back and looked to exploit the pace of Zeko Flemming in transition.
Manager Nuno made a decisive double substitution in the final ten minutes, introducing Michail Antonio and Kyle Walker-Peters. These changes proved pivotal, as Walker-Peters went on to score the winning goal in the 87th minute. S. Parker responded late on by bringing on J. Cullen, who pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Technical Performance
Technically, West Ham were more clinical in front of goal, converting five of their fifteen shots into goals. Their attacking movements were sharp, particularly the interplay between Bowen and Fornals, which consistently stretched Burnley’s defence.
Burnley’s defending was generally strong, especially the centre‑back partnership of Charlie Taylor and Ben Mee, who dealt well with the physical presence of Antonio. However, their attacking play lacked creativity, and they only managed to convert two of their fourteen shots into goals.
Statistical Analysis
Looking at the numbers, Burnley held a slight edge in possession (57%) and corners (7–6). However, West Ham’s efficiency in front of goal was the decisive factor. The Hammers recorded five shots on target, compared to Burnley’s two. The foul count was fairly even, with West Ham recording 15 fouls and Burnley 13. Both teams received two yellow cards during the match.
Strengths and Weaknesses
West Ham Strengths
- Clinical finishing in front of goal
- Effective use of width to create chances
- Strong midfield control
West Ham Weaknesses
- Susceptible to fast counter‑attacks
- Inconsistent defensive concentration
Burnley Strengths
- Well‑organised defence
- Effective use of set pieces
Burnley Weaknesses
- Lack of creativity in the final third
- Over‑reliance on counter‑attacks
Key Moments
The first half was a tight contest, with Burnley taking the lead in the 35th minute through Zeko Flemming, who volleyed the ball into the bottom corner. West Ham responded strongly, and just before the break, Callum Wilson (assumed to be a West Ham striker for this example) levelled the scoring with a close‑range finish in the 44th minute.
After the interval, the game continued to swing both ways. Tomas Soucek put West Ham ahead in the 77th minute, heading in from a corner kick. The decisive moment came ten minutes later when Kyle Walker-Peters, who had just been substituted on, surged down the flank and slotted the ball past the keeper to make it 3–1.
In the dying moments, J. Cullen reduced the deficit with a late strike in the 97th minute, but it wasn’t enough to spark a Burnley comeback.
Player Ratings
West Ham
- Luke Fabianski – 7/10: Made a couple of vital saves, particularly in the second half.
- Tomas Soucek – 8/10: The midfield anchor, excellent in both defence and attack, and on target with a crucial header.
- Jarrod Bowen – 8/10: Constant threat down the right, created several clear-cut chances.
- Pablo Fornals – 7/10: Provided intelligent runs and good service from midfield.
- Kyle Walker-Peters – 9/10: Man of the match. His substitution changed the game, and he finished with a brilliant goal.
Burnley
- Ben Mee – 7/10: Organised the defence well and made several crucial interventions.
- Charlie Taylor – 7/10: Solid at the back, dealt with Antonio’s physicality effectively.
- Zeko Flemming – 7/10: Scored a fine goal and was a threat on the counter.
- Maxwell Cornet – 6/10: Worked hard up front but lacked service.
- J. Cullen – 7/10: Came on late and made an immediate impact, scoring a late goal.
Overall Summary
In our view, West Ham fully deserved the win. They were more clinical in front of goal and made the most of their opportunities, especially in the final ten minutes. Burnley, while defensively solid, lacked the creativity to break down a resolute West Ham defence until it was too late. Nuno’s tactical changes were the turning point.
Future Outlook
This victory will give West Ham a boost as they aim for a top‑half finish this season. They will need to continue improving their defensive consistency to maintain this momentum. For Burnley, the result is a mixed bag – they showed resilience but must find more ways to create chances if they are to climb the table. Expect both managers to make tactical tweaks in their upcoming fixtures.