Danny Murphy lauded Said Benrahma on Match of the Day 2 (15/8, 23:03) after the winger filled Jesse Lingard’s void in the West Ham United midfield against Newcastle on Sunday.
The former Fulham midfielder believes Benrahma was at the centre of everything that went right for West Ham on Tyneside. The Hammers won their Premier League curtain-raiser 4-2 after coming from behind twice for their first opening day win since August 2015.
Benrahma scored West Ham’s second to pull David Moyes’ men back level at Newcastle, to match his 2020/21 goal tally. The 26-year-old scored once in 30 Premier League outings last term, while offering six assists. He also opened that account on Sunday for the Irons’ last.
Benrahma’s efforts to help West Ham beat Newcastle amazed Murphy, who lauded his performance: “He was [at the heart of everything]. He played as a number 10 today to try and fill the boots of Lingard, who came to West Ham last season and set the world alight.
“They gave Benrahma the chance to play in that role and from minute one, he had intent about him. He had good feet, he got in great positions, you could tell he’s a goalscorer. I know he only got one last year, but he got a load at Brentford and there’s no doubt in my mind he can get double figures if he plays regularly in this West Ham side.
“Defensively, he’ll have to improve if he wants to stay in this side. But as the game wore on, he got better and better. He kept finding himself in goalscoring positions. Brilliant cross this [from Michail Antonio] and there he is getting in there. One thing you’ve got to do when playing as a number 10 is chip in with the goals, you can’t just look good on the ball.”
Benrahma filled Lingard’s big boots for West Ham at Newcastle
Lingard left big boots to fill at West Ham after the England international’s remarkable spell on loan from Manchester United. During his half-season spell at the London Stadium from January, the 28-year-old scored nine times and offered five assists in 16 appearances.
Benrahma filled those boots against Newcastle on Sunday, and West Ham will hope he now kicks on to maintain it. The Irons spent up to £30m signing the Algerian from Brentford last summer. But his debut year failed to show the goal threat he displayed in the second-tier.
He left the Championship having scored 17 times and providing 10 assists in 46 games in the 2019/20 season. And it was that Benrahma on show for West Ham at Newcastle, timing his runs to perfection. He also overcome a shaky first-half to be a creative force after the break. Which Moyes will hope is just the start of what’s to come from the 26-year-old.
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