Defeat leaves Bilic on brink as West Ham look to Moyes

David Moyes is in pole position to take over at West Ham United until the end of the season should the club’s board end Slaven Bilic’s time in charge after another embarrassing home defeat, this time to Liverpool.

The 54-year-old Moyes is regarded by the club as the best immediate option to shore up West Ham despite taking Sunderland into the Championship last season, one that ended with him resigning. Bilic’s contract is up at the end of the season and the team have no wins from their last four league games.

West Ham owner David Sullivan has been unwilling to sack managers midseason, or pay compensation to appoint replacements, and former Manchester United and Everton coach Moyes would be available without a cost.

Asked whether he still believed he was the man to lead West Ham with the team one point outside the relegation zone, Bilic said: “Of course I believe in myself and my staff and my team and my character.

“I’ve been a long time in football and I’ve come so far from a small country, first as a player then as a manager. I’m a big fighter. And I definitely don’t feel a broken man.

“I’m very, very strong. On the other hand the situation for West Ham is not very good. But the club is about every individual and that includes me. I believe in myself and I am the one taking the bullets.”

Asked when he would speak to the board, Bilic replied “When they call me. I’m always facing the situation, facing the consequences. I am not hiding behind anything.”