West Ham move off the bottom of EPL with 3-1 home win over Liverpool - CNN International

West Ham moved off the bottom of the English Premier League with a 3-1 win over Liverpool at Upton Park Sunday.

Liverpool had been unbeaten in eight under new manager Kenny Dalglish and harboring hopes of a late bid for a Champions League place but they were well beaten by the Hammers.

Goals from inspirational captain Scott Parker and new striker Demba Ba put the home side in command before a late Glen Johnson effort with six minutes remaining gave Liverpool late hope.

But Carlton Cole sealed victory with West Ham's third and they move level on points with Wolves but still in the relegation zone.

Manager Avram Grant would have been pleased by the midfield axis of Parker and German international Thomas Hitzlsperger, but had particular praise for his skipper, who had been a big doubt before the match with injury.

"Scott is a special guy. The spirit he showed was great," he told Sky Sports.

"Three hours before the game, we thought there was no way he would play.

"It was a bad, bad injury. He couldn't walk or move his arms."

In Sunday's other match, Manchester City were held 1-1 by Fulham, a result which dents their title and Champions League qualification hopes.

Italian striker Mario Balotelli scored a superb opener for City on 26 minutes but the visitors leveled just after halftime as Andy Johnson crossed for Damien Duff to score.

In an otherwise drab affair, Carlos Tevez nearly scored a late winner for City but Fulham held on for a deserved draw.

At the final whistle, the Fulham manager Mark Hughes, controversially sacked last season by City, appeared to exchange angry words with his successor Roberto Mancini.