London: West Ham United climbed off the bottom of the Premier League with an uplifting and well-deserved 3-1 home win over Liverpool.
West Ham went ahead after 22 minutes with a superb goal by Scott Parker as the England midfielder played a one-two with Thomas Hitzlsperger before placing a shot beyond Pepe Reina.
They doubled their lead at the end of the first half when Demba Ba headed in a Gary O'Neil cross.
Liverpool struggled to get control and managed only one goal in reply when Glen Johnson tapped in a cross-shot by Luis Suarez four minutes from time.
West Ham had the final say though when Carlton Cole blasted in their third in stoppage time.
The victory took West Ham to 28 points and above Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion and completed a good week after they thrashed Burnley 5-1 on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
It was sixth-placed Liverpool's first defeat in eight league games and, following a 1-1 home draw with Wigan after five straight wins, severely dents their outside hopes of snatching a Champions League place.
Manchester United, who beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 on Saturday, lead the standings on 60 points, four clear of Arsenal, who face Birmingham City in the League Cup final on Sunday.
Manchester City, in third place on 49 points, were playing Fulham later on Sunday, with Tottenham Hotspur fourth on 47.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 09:32