West Ham United still not safe!

West Ham United's decision to rest key players backfired as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Brentford in last but two Premier League game of the season. However, attention now turns to their upcoming UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final second leg against AZ Alkmaar, where they will defend a 2-1 lead.

Europa Conference League prioritised

David Moyes made several changes to the starting lineup, with Michail Antonio, Declan Rice, and Said Benrahma all left out of the squad. The decision appeared to backfire as Brentford took an early lead through Bryan Mbeumo's strike in the 20th minute. The Hammers were unable to find a way back into the game, and Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford's lead just before half-time.

Disallowed goal

Despite a late disallowed goal from Danny Ings, West Ham failed to mount a comeback, and their European aspirations now rest solely on their upcoming tie against AZ Alkmaar. West Ham secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the London Stadium last week, with goals from Antonio and Benrahma ensuring a crucial advantage heading into the second leg in Alkmaar. Moyes will be hoping that the likes of Antonio, Benrahma and Rice will be fresh and ready for the trip to the Netherlands. The Hammers will need to be at their best to progress to the final. With a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg, West Ham will be confident of booking their place in the final. Just like fans already showed their confidence by booking Conference League final tickets in advance. However, AZ Alkmaar will pose a stern test, and the Hammers will need to be fully focused and ready to battle for the full 90 minutes.

UEFA Europa Conference League

The Europa Conference League may not be the most glamorous of competitions, but it represents a genuine opportunity for West Ham to secure silverware and cement their place as a rising force in English football. Moyes and his players will be fully aware of the significance of Thursday's game and will be determined to give their all to secure a place in the final.