West Ham United boss David Moyes offers explanation over starting both Joao Mario and Manuel Lanzini

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West Ham United were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool in their last outing.

David Moyes has explained to the Independent that he felt Liverpool had a weakness in wide areas, and that may explain why he picked both Manuel Lanzini and Joao Mario to start against them in West Ham United’s most recent match.

Liverpool beat West Ham 4-1, with Moyes’ side’s defence exposed in the contest.

Moyes’ team selection was criticised by Frank Lampard after the match, with the former Chelsea man suggesting to Match of the Day, that he shouldn’t have picked both Mario and Lanzini, as covered by HITC.

However, Moyes insists that Liverpool leave spaces out wide for creative players to attack.

“I think for a lot of teams it’s hard because they put an awful lot of pressure on you; they’re in good positions to press, especially their midfield three and the front three,” Moyes said.

“Because of the [narrow] front three and the midfield you can get into wide areas and cause them some problems. Maybe there’s not quite as much protection. But we couldn’t get into those areas as much as we’d like. I thought we still looked a threat. There were moments where we could have maybe made more of the chances.”

Both Lanzini and Mario were stationed out wide, which explains why Moyes picked them.

The Scot obviously felt that attack was the best form of defence at Anfield, but his plan did not work out.

West Ham were largely outplayed, as Liverpool picked up a comfortable three points.

The Hammers are now in 13th place in the Premier League table.