Frank Lampard put Everton's latest deflating loss down to circumstances, complaining that things are conspiring against his team.
Lampard lost Donny van de Beek to injury in the warm-up, forcing him into a late reshuffle, while Nathan Patterson, who was due to make his Premier League debut, turned his ankle in training on Saturday.
Everton's manager likewise cursed how Aaron Cresswell scored from a direct free-kick to give West Ham the lead while neither of Richarlison's one-on-one chances went in at the London Stadium.
Relegation-threatened Everton have now had a player sent off in three consecutive league matches, after Michael Keane's red card, leaving Lampard feeling little is going his way.