LONDON, February 28- West Ham midfielder Scott Parker insists his team have the belief to avoid relegation in the English Premier League following their 3-1 victory over Liverpool.The 30-year-old, despite being rated doubtful for the clash at Upton Park, inspired the win that took the Hammers off the bottom of the table and only in the bottom three on goal difference.
Parker scored the first goal before Demba Ba doubled the lead, with Carlton Cole wrapping up the scoring after Glen Johnson had pulled one back for the visitors.
"It’s very tight at the bottom of the table and has been for a long time," Parker said after Sunday’s win.
"It’s given us some hope. We need to believe we can get out of it and I’m confident we can.
"We’ve been playing some nice stuff and every one of us believes we shouldn’t be where we are in the league. But the position doesn’t lie.
"We haven’t performed at times. Hopefully we can push on in the final bit of the season and get us out of the mess we have put ourselves in."
West Ham manager Avram Grant revealed afterwards Parker had injured his shoulder in training and needed painkilling injections to take the field.
He said: "We thought he couldn’t play. But Scott is a special guy.
"The spirit he showed was great. 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. The medical department were sure he couldn’t play, but they did a good job and gave him 24 hours of treatment.
"He’s the type of player I like: he always gives 100%, is always positive. I like some of the things from old-fashioned play – it’s doesn’t matter how much they earn."
Grant also dedicated victory to co-chairman David Gold, who is in hospital with cholangitis and septicaemia.
"I want to wish him all the best and to get well. He’s a good guy, and I’m sure he enjoyed the game," he added.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was disappointed with his side’s performance and will also need assess a hamstring injury to Martin Kelly and a knock to the knee taken by Raul Meireles.
"Martin’s is more serious," he said.
"We lost the second goal just before half-time after Martin had gone off, but we might have lost a goal if he hadn’t gone off. That provided them with a great lift.
"A hamstring means he would be struggling for Sunday (against Manchester United). Raul we don’t know. But I wouldn’t take it as a given that Martin’s out yet."
Dalglish would not confirm if Andy Carroll is available for Liverpool’s next match but insists the striker is doing well in his recovery from a thigh problem.
"We’re analysing Andy every day," he said.
"He’s better than bang on schedule. We never pencilled in a date when he’d play. If he’s okay, then as soon as he is he’ll be involved.
"We just have to wait and see. There’s been nothing that’s happened since he came in that’s had an adverse effect on his progress. We never had him in mind for this game."
