Liverpool moved back to the top of
the Barclays Premier League table as
captain Steven Gerrard scored two
penalties to see off a spirited West
Ham side at Upton Park.
With Chelsea's win over Stoke on
Saturday moving the Blues to the
summit, Brendan Rodgers' side
reacted to the pressure with an
unconvincing win - the type teams
with title-winning aspirations are
nevertheless all too happy for at thisstage.
Gerrard struck from the spot in
either half, with Guy Demel drawing
West Ham level in first-half stoppage
time.
Now Liverpool can prepare for an
Anfield clash with trophy rivals
Manchester City next Sunday,
knowing another win would bring a
first league title for 24 years even
closer.
The Reds' return to top spot seemed
to be going smoothly as Gerrard's
first penalty put them ahead late in
the first half, b ut the hosts hit back
almost immediately with a
controversial Demel leveller after
former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll
appeared to foul Simon Mignolet in
the build-up.
The visitors' second penalty was
another contentious decision, with
referee Anthony Taylor deciding Jon
Flanagan had been fouled by Adrian,
b ut Gerrard thrashed the spot-kick
home to wrap up a ninth consecutive
win for Liverpool.
