London: Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following the club's lacklustre start to the season, the fallen Premier League giants announced Monday.

United dropped to a lowly 14th in the table after suffering their fourth defeat in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday, with a club statement saying: "Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men's first-team manager."

United had cause to curse their luck at the London Stadium as a VAR intervention controversially awarded West Ham a stoppage time penalty that Jarrod Bowen converted to give the Hammers a 2-1 win.

But the Red Devils had only themselves to blame for a fourth league defeat of the season that leaves Ten Hag's men down in 14th.

As has been their problem all season, United squandered a series of big chances during a dominant spell in the first half.

A return of eight goals in their first nine games is United's worst in the Premier League era and no side in the division has under-performed their expected goals figures more this season.

United are seven points adrift of the Champions League places and face fifth-placed Chelsea at Old Trafford next weekend.