Benitez refuses to give up Premiership title hopes

Liverpool's manager Rafa Benitez gestures to his players during the Premiership football match against West Ham at Upton Park. Benitez has urged his side to increase the pressure on their rivals in the Premiership title race.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has urged his side to increase the pressure on their rivals in the Premiership title race after this latest win over West Ham at Upton Park.

Brilliantly taken goals from Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch - on his 26th birthday - were enough to close the gap on second placed Chelsea to two points.

Kepa Blanco scored a consolation goal for West Ham, who are still in the relegation zone and have not won for seven Premiership matches.

Despite trailing league leaders Manchester United by eight points, Benitez believes his side are still in with a chance of winning the league.

"They were two great goals," he said. "The finishing was very good. I think the goals were the difference. We scored first and got confidence.

"We have to keep thinking about getting the three points and in two or three weeks time we will talk about our position.

"We are keeping our momentum and that is the key. Chelsea have quality but if they drop points then perfect, but if not we keep going.

"We will try to keep winning and show people we have the quality to be closer. It is a long race."

Alan Curbishley has had a tough time since his first game in charge last month, when West Ham beat Manchester United to record his only league win so far.

He started Marlon Harewood and Carlton Cole in attack, but it was the men who replaced them later on who would have more impact.

The first half was one of few chances, although West Ham will feel they had the better of it, as Nigel Reo-Coker and Harewood both came close.

West Ham's Carlton Cole (C) holds off Liverpool's Xabi Alonso (R) during the Premiership football match at Upton Park. Liverpool won the match 2-1.

Clinical finishing from Liverpool after half-time proved vital however, and it took just 12 seconds into the second half for them to move in front.

Crouch teed up Kuyt 25 yards from goal, and the Dutch forward fired a first time drive into the top corner of Roy Carroll’s net.

On 53 minutes Liverpool doubled their lead, this time after a brilliant display of pass and move football.

The build up play involved Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Craig Bellamy, before John Arne Riise set up Crouch to stroke the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Bellamy almost added to the woe as he came close with three efforts in quick succession, and at the other end Harewood had a penalty appeal turned down after a challenge by Riise.

Bobby Zamora and Blanco then entered the frame in place of Cole and Harewood, though, and it was the latter who made a fantastic impact on his debut.

Within 90 seconds of his introduction Blanco slid in to convert a cross from Zamora six yards out, and set up an exciting final 13 minutes.

They were unable to find the leveller though, and West Ham have just 13 games left to pull themselves out of trouble.

"We were undone by two great goals, but they were two mistakes on our behalf," Curbishley said. "We can’t afford to do that.

"I can’t hide from the fact we have had a poor run since I’ve been here. The fourth from bottom side is the one we need to catch, and our only way out of this is to start getting results.

"The games against teams around us will be deciders, and I'm hoping we have a few players back for those games. One win can change everything."