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.

    Takeover bid in doubt

    Meanwhile, Liverpool has decided not to formally accept a bid from Dubai International Capital to buy the English Premiership club.

    The club's board of directors met at a London hotel before their 2-1 win at West Ham to discuss the offer from DIC and agreed they needed more time before making a decision on the takeover.

    DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, were ready to purchase Liverpool for around 155 million pounds, deal with the club's 80 million pounds' debt and fund a new 60,000-seater stadium.

    But Liverpool's move gives American tycoon George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey team, hope that his counter-offer will be accepted instead.

    (Source: China Daily/Agencies)