Liverpool 4 West Ham 1: We’re back on track, insists Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers declared that Liverpool are back on track in their hunt for a top-four finish after the Reds were emphatic winners against West Ham United at Anfield.

The home side took a 42nd-minute lead when Guy Demel put the ball past his own goalkeeper before giant centre-half Mamadou Sakho doubled Liverpool’s lead after half-time.

I was really pleased with reaction when the scoreline went to 2-1

Brendan Rodgers

The Reds did suffer a setback when Skrtel scored his second own goal in as many weeks, before Luis Suarez netted his 14th top-flight goal of the season.

And the Merseyside outfit sealed three points when Hammers defender Joey O’Brien deflected the Uruguayan’s late effort past shot-stopper Jussi Jääskeläinen.

“I thought it was going to be a test for us today. They work very hard and they are a very committed side. It was always going to be a difficult game for us,” Rodgers told BBC Sport.

“We started the game slowly but once we got our rhythm, we created chances.

“In the first half we could have scored more, once we got the goal, it allowed us to get our flow better and allowed us to go 2-0 up – and it could have been four or five.

“I was really pleased with reaction when the scoreline went to 2-1. The reaction to get to the third goal again was outstanding.”

Rodgers also defended his side’s recent away form ahead of tough trips to Chelsea and Manchester City later this month.

“Until the Hull game our away record was good,” he said. “We lost at Arsenal but that will happen.

“We know it will be a tough month. The last five games we’ve won three, drawn one and lost one.

“We’re on track for where we want to be. The big games are the great games. In the first half of the season, we’ve got most of them away. It was a great win.”