Premier League on Betfair: Pellegrini pays price for another Hammers defeat

West Ham's home defeat to a much-changed Leicester side saw Manuel Pellegrini lose his job on Saturday, and it's one of the Hammers' former managers who is favourite to take over...

David Moyes is set to make a dramatic return as West Ham manager following the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini on Saturday evening.

Moyes - who was available to back at just 1/12 on Sunday morning in the Next Permanent West Ham Manager market - is expected to be named as the Hammers' new boss on Monday, but will almost certainly be in the hot seat before Wednesday's massive home game against fellow strugglers Bournemouth.

The former Everton boss was appointed West Ham manager in November 2017 as a replacement for Slaven Bilic and was tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League. Having successful achieved what was required Moyes' contract was not renewed with the club owners stating they were, "looking to go in another direction."

Lacklustre Hammers fall to another home defeat

Pellegrini's last game in charge saw West Ham lose 1-2 at home to a Leicester team that made nine changes to their regular starting XI. The defeat means the Hammers have taken just one point from the last 18 available at the London Stadium and they now sit just one point above the relegation zone.

Goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray - who also missed a first half penalty - sealed the win for the Foxes who responded in the perfect manner following Boxing Day's 4-0 home drubbing by champions elect Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers' men are available to back at 1.26 to record a Top 4 Finish this season, while West Ham - now firmly in a fight to avoid the drop - can be backed at 3.65 in the Relegation market.

Red Devils take closer order

Manchester United moved up to fifth in the table - within one point of fourth-placed Chelsea (before Sunday's games) - with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Burnley in Saturday's late kick-off.

The Red Devils scored goals at the end of each half through two of their star men - Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford - but the result was never really in doubt with the Clarets not registering a single shot on target until late in the second half.

United can now be backed at 3.40 in the Top 4 Finish market, just behind Tottenham at 3.30 who sit sixth in the table following a 2-2 draw at Norwich.

Hornets resurgence continues

Watford continued their recent good form with a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Aston Villa despite being down to 10 for 35 minutes of the encounter.

A brace of goals from Troy Deeney and a Ismaila Sarr strike sealed the points for Nigel Pearson's men who have taken seven points from a possible nine over the Christmas period, and now sit just two points behind Villa (18th) in the table and three behind West Ham (17th).

Norwich remain red hot favourites for the drop, trading at 1.25 in the Relegation market, ahead of Villa at 1.58 and Watford at 2.20.

Mixed fortunes for new bosses

Everton won their second game on the spin under their new boss Carlo Ancelotti when defeating Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park, a result that lifted the Toffees to 10th in the table and just five points off sixth-placed Tottenham.

Everton can be backed at 6.00 in the Top 6 Finish market.

Ancelotti's start is in stark contrast to Arsenal new boss Mikel Arteta who saw his team lose 1-2 at home to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, meaning the former Gunners midfielder is still looking for his first win as manager.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 13th Premier League goal of the season gave Arsenal an early lead but Arteta's men shot themselves in the foot when Bernd Leno missed Mason Mount's free-kick, allowing Jorginho to tap home at the far post.

And in the 87th minute Chelsea - matched at a high of 32.00 in the Match Odds market - took all three points when Tammy Abraham fired home from close range.

Chelsea moved four points clear of fifth-placed Man Utd with the win and can be backed at around 1.65 to record a Top 4 Finish.