West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has spoken about his side giving the opposition an “advantage” when they have players sent off.

Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez have both been shown red cards in the league this season and both matches ended in defeat for the Hammers, who are 14th with three wins from 10 games.

Kudus is serving a five-game ban after being given an extra two matches by the Football Association for his conduct following his dismissal against Tottenham last month.

Lopetegui said: “We have to try not to give the opponent different advantages that we can avoid – for example, the red cards.

“We can do better in a lot of moments of the match. If you want to compete in the Premier League, the first step is to try to be consistent.

“We need to have better answers in the moments- more calm, better decisions. This [Kudus’ red card] was unacceptable, and we have to try to avoid this kind of action. He knows. But this is part of the past.

“These two players are not going to play Saturday. I prefer to focus on the players who are going to be ready to face Everton.”

Alvarez begins a two-match ban after he was shown his second red card of the season during last weekend’s defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The Mexico midfielder has been sent off twice in his past three starts for the Hammers and is the first player to be dismissed two times for West Ham in a season since Aaron Cresswell in the 2021-22 campaign.

“Of course, both talked and apologised to me and to the team. Both know that they were wrong. This is clear – but it is done,” Lopetegui continued.

“We have to learn and to change the future. The past you can never change. You have to focus on changing the future.”