The alert Benayoun puts Liverpool in front at Anfield
By Jamie Lillywhite
Liverpool moved back into sixth place after an emphatic win over West Ham, who remain one place above the relegation zone.
Yossi Benayoun put them ahead in unusual fashion, diverting a Steven Gerrard cross in off his stomach.
David Ngog added a second with a fiercely struck snap shot from a Maxi Rodriguez cross as the Reds dominated.
After the break a Sotiros Kyrgiakos header came back off a post and in off the leg of Hammers keeper Robert Green.
It was a wretched display from West Ham, who have not won at Anfield for 47 years and may not have the chance to play there next season if their fortunes do not improve, having succumbed to their seventh defeat in the last nine games.
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They now face a critical home fixture with Wigan on Saturday mindful of awkward closing games away to Fulham and home to Champions League-chasing Manchester City.
Liverpool, who plan to set off for Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday lunchtime because of the volcanic ash saga, are now a point clear of Aston Villa having played a game more.
They have a home match with Chelsea either side of winnable away trips to Burnley and Hull.
With both sides having plenty to play for the opening exchanges were remarkably tame, anguished cries from the players were often audible on the rare occasions when West Ham's vociferous 1,500 travelling contingent were not making themselves heard.
Benayoun teed up an early chance for Rodriguez but his shot was easily saved by Green.
The Hammers enjoyed some comfortable early possession in midfield but posed little direct threat and the kind of cunning invention typified by their manager Gianfranco Zola as a player.
Benayoun ghosted between the defenders and was completely free on the edge of the six-yard box as Gerrard's free-kick from the right-hand touchline bounced just in front of him.
The industrious Israeli diverted the ball in off the post with his stomach, carefully keeping his hands out of the way, despite appeals to the contrary from West Ham defenders.
More atrocious defending from the visitors gave Liverpool another golden opportunity, but from inside the six-yard box Kyrgiakos somehow headed a right-wing Gerrard corner into the ground and the ball bounced over.
It did not prove at all critical as with the move of the match Liverpool doubled their lead shortly before the half-hour.
Benayoun's quick pass found Rodriguez on the right and his first time cross was met instantly on the half-volley by Ngog, whose shot was too fierce for Green to keep out, even though the England goalkeeper got a hand to the ball.
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The remainder of the match was merely a procession for Liverpool, who might conceivably have had three penalties - two for handball and one for a foul on Ngog.
West Ham, badly missing the purpose of the suspended Scott Parker, introduced Guillermo Franco at half-time but Liverpool extended their advantage as another teasing Gerrard free-kick, this time from the left, caused more distress in the visiting defence.
Kyrgiakos met the ball from close range and West Ham's misfortune was summed up when it rebounded off a post on to the back of Green's leg and into the net.
Liverpool could even afford to take off Gerrard, Benayoun and Ngog to allow them a rest ahead of Thursday, while West Ham suffered even greater misery when Carlton Cole went off with a knee injury.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"We have to keep doing our job. It will be more difficult now [to qualify for the Champions League because Tottenham won [against Chelsea], normally you would not expect them to win.
"But we have to be in a good position if they make a mistake.
"West Ham started the game pushing but as soon as we scored the first goal it was easier, we had more chances and we scored the second goal and the third one killed the game."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola:
"We started well. We were quite comfortable on the pitch. We suffered on dead balls - normally we are very good defending against them but not today.
"The first goal was a killer, I felt we were on top of the game.
"The second was a distraction, that was a killer. After 2-0 it was difficult for us.
"In the second half we tried to have a go and press them hard but they scored on a dead ball."
70:57 Substitution Steven Gerrard leaves the field to be replaced by Javier Mascherano.
70:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Araujo Ilan on Daniel Agger. Dirk Kuyt restarts play with the free kick.
69:43 A cross is delivered by Dirk Kuyt, Manuel da Costa makes a clearance.
69:38 Centre by Steven Gerrard, clearance made by Manuel da Costa.
69:04 The ball is sent over by Julien Faubert, save made by Jose Reina.
67:34 Handball decision goes against Mark Noble. Rodriguez Maxi takes the direct free kick.
66:18 Carlton Cole takes a shot. Save made by Jose Reina.
66:01 Centre by Glen Johnson, clearance by Manuel da Costa.
64:45 Jamie Carragher takes the free kick.
64:45 Booking Radoslav Kovac goes into the referee's book for dissent.
64:36 Valon Behrami concedes a free kick for a foul on Glen Johnson.
62:28 Steven Gerrard delivers the ball, clearance made by Matthew Upson.
62:13 Rodriguez Maxi produces a cross, Matthew Upson makes a clearance.
61:44 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard from the right by-line to the near post, Carlton Cole makes a clearance.
61:36 Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Manuel da Costa gets a block in.
61:09 Centre by Yossi Benayoun, clearance by Valon Behrami.
59:50 Free kick awarded for a foul by Leiva Lucas on Radoslav Kovac. Mark Noble takes the direct free kick.
58:59 The assist for the goal came from Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
58:55 GOAL - Robert Green:Liverpool 3 - 0 West Ham An own goal is conceded by Robert Green. Liverpool 3-0 West Ham.
58:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Noble on Dirk Kuyt. Centre by Steven Gerrard, Sotirios Kyrgiakos produces a right-footed
shot from deep inside the penalty box and strikes the post.
56:48 Effort from just outside the area by Leiva Lucas goes over the target.
52:58 Radoslav Kovac fouled by Steven Gerrard, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Noble takes the free kick.
52:32 Araujo Ilan concedes a free kick for a foul on Yossi Benayoun. Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
52:22 The ball is crossed by Dirk Kuyt, save by Robert Green.
51:14 The referee blows for offside. Mark Noble takes the indirect free kick.
49:38 Steven Gerrard produces a cross, blocked by Julien Faubert.
49:13 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Steven Gerrard, Radoslav Kovac makes a clearance.
48:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Glen Johnson by Mark Noble. Steven Gerrard crosses the ball from the free kick
right-footed from right wing, blocked by Jonathan Spector.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 Substitution Guillermo Franco joins the action as a substitute, replacing Junior Stanislas.
45:00+1:11 The half-time whistle blows.
44:07 Carlton Cole is caught offside. Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
41:30 Corner taken by Steven Gerrard from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Manuel da Costa.
41:19 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Save by Robert Green.
40:42 A cross is delivered by Steven Gerrard, Manuel da Costa makes a clearance.
39:36 The ball is swung over by Glen Johnson, save by Robert Green.
38:36 Radoslav Kovac crosses the ball, save made by Jose Reina.
37:10 Unfair challenge on Steven Gerrard by Manuel da Costa results in a free kick. Steven Gerrard shoots direct from the free kick.
37:03 The ball is crossed by David Ngog, clearance by Junior Stanislas.
32:55 Carlton Cole has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
30:24 Valon Behrami concedes a free kick for a foul on Dirk Kuyt. Direct free kick taken by Dirk Kuyt.
28:33 Assist by Rodriguez Maxi.
28:33 GOAL - David Ngog:Liverpool 2 - 0 West Ham Goal scored by David Ngog from deep inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Liverpool 2-0 West Ham.
28:07 A cross is delivered by Junior Stanislas, save by Jose Reina.
25:53 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard, Close range header by Sotirios Kyrgiakos goes over the bar.
23:07 Unfair challenge on Valon Behrami by Dirk Kuyt results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Junior
22:35 Dirk Kuyt concedes a free kick for a foul on Radoslav Kovac. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Junior Stanislas from
right wing, clearance made by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
20:50 Glen Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Valon Behrami. Direct free kick taken by Mark Noble.
20:11 Effort on goal by Carlton Cole from 18 yards. Save by Jose Reina.
19:18 Corner taken by Junior Stanislas played to the near post, clearance made by Glen Johnson.
18:27 Steven Gerrard provided the assist for the goal.
18:27 GOAL - Yossi Benayoun:Liverpool 1 - 0 West Ham Yossi Benayoun gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-0 West
17:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Spector on David Ngog. Steven Gerrard delivers the ball,
17:12 The ball is swung over by Rodriguez Maxi.
16:13 The ball is sent over by Julien Faubert, save by Jose Reina.
13:25 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard from the right by-line to the near post, David Ngog has a headed effort
from close range and clears the bar.
7:37 Centre by Junior Stanislas, clearance made by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
7:31 Julien Faubert crosses the ball, Sotirios Kyrgiakos makes a clearance.
6:28 Valon Behrami challenges Rodriguez Maxi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steven Gerrard crosses the ball from the free
kick right-footed from right wing. The referee blows for offside against Dirk Kuyt. Robert Green restarts play with the free
5:12 David Ngog takes a shot. Robert Green makes a save.
2:40 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Robert Green makes a save.
0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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