Liverpool: Liverpool beat visiting West Ham 3-0 in Monday's only Premier League match to stay in contention for European qualification.
Goals from Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog plus an own-goal from West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green at Anfield lifted Liverpool into sixth place over Aston Villa, which has played one fewer match.
The five-time European champions are unlikely to clinch a top-four spot and a place in next season's Champions League but can make sure of a spot in the second-tier Europa League by finishing fifth or sixth.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher refused to concede that Liverpool is out of the running to finish fourth.
"It hasn't gone," Carragher told ESPN. "We know it's going to be difficult. Other teams have done well. Tottenham have done really well but they have a tough game against Manchester United, so hopefully they will slip up."
Liverpool has 59 points from 35 matches, five points behind fourth-place Tottenham and three back from No. 5 Manchester City but having played a game more than both those teams. West Ham stayed on 31 points and in the relegation places.
Benayoun gave the hosts the lead in the 19th minute, the ball hitting his stomach and then going in off the post from Steven Gerrard's free kick from wide on the flank. Benayoun, who used to play for West Ham, declined to celebrate his goal.
"I still have feelings for this club and hope they stay (up)," Benayoun said. "I wish them all the best."
Ngog started up front after Fernando Torres was ruled out of the rest of Liverpool's season following knee surgery Sunday, and the Frenchman made it 2-0 in the 29th with a first-time shot from inside the box following Maxi Rodriguez's cross.
"To replace Fernando is difficult and everyone is expecting to see the same things, but (Ngog) is totally different," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.
Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos looked to have scored the third goal from Gerrard's free kick in the 59th — but the ball came back off the post, hit Green and bounced into the net.
Due to the airport mayhem caused by the ash cloud from Iceland's volcanic eruption, Liverpool leaves Tuesday for the first leg of its Europa League semifinal against Atletico Madrid on Thursday. The team plans to head to Bordeaux by rail and road before taking a flight from southwest France to Spain.
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