Nigel Clough broke West Ham's hearts after regaining his place in another Graeme Souness re-think at Anfield.
The 2.275 million pound midfielder - a substitute for the last two matches - celebrated his recall with the 68th minute goal that ended West Ham's stranglehold on an entertaining clash. Clough was expected to feature in the England squad manager Graham Taylor announced on Monday for the World Cup clash with San Marino.
But there were doubts about the availability of full-back Rob Jones, stretchered off to hospital after 18 minutes with a knee injury.
West Ham played the brighter more inventive football for an hour when at times Bruce Grobbelaar stood alone between them and their first Anfield win for 30 years.
Grobbelaar was at his best to deny Matthew Holmes twice and Lee Chapman twice - yet produced his almost customary blunder. He dribbled out of his penalty area after 28 minutes and passed the ball neatly to Trevor Morley. The West Ham striker elected to follow Pele's example by shooting for the empty goal although Chapman was better positioned and the ball bounced wide.
Clough's finishing was more clinical when his opportunity arrived after 68 minutes.
Dominic Matteo jinked in from the left and released the ball for Clough whose instant shot was blocked. But the ball rebounded obligingly for him to slam it beyond the despairing grasp of Ludek Miklosko.
Liverpool, boosted by the goal, at last began to dominate and Matteo himself added a second goal eight minutes from the end in bizarre circumstances.
Again it was down to a snooker-style cannon. Matteo's first shot bounded off Miklosko's body, hit him on the shins and rebounded back into the goal.
Former Anfield favourites David Burrows and Mike Marsh received a magnificent reception from the Liverpool fans and both came close to scoring as West Ham seized the early initiative.
But as chance after chance went begging, Liverpool gained in confidence and eventually secured a win which extends their unbeaten run to seven matches and keeps them in hot pursuit of the Premiership pacemakers.
Manager Graeme Souness believes it could be up to six weeks before Jones is fit.
Said Souness: "Rob's knee locked up and our physiotherapist and doctor feel it is a cartilage. It could be three weeks or six weeks - we won't know until he's had the operation."
Liverpool's revival coincided with the appearance of Jamie Redknapp as a substitute for Jones. Redknapp's father, Harry, the West Ham assistant manager, admitted: "It was the first time I have seen Jamie in action against my own team and it was a bit difficult. They seemed to improve when he came on. We played ever so well and I was very disappointed we didn't get something out of it."
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