Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has warned his team-mates that West Ham will be keen to ease the pain of their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea when they visit Anfield on Wednesday.

The Hammers crashed to a comprehensive defeat to London rivals Chelsea at Upton Park at the weekend and Gerrard is wary of a backlash.

Liverpool go into the game knowing that three points would see them overhaul Everton on goal difference in the battle for fourth spot in the Premier League.

However Gerrard is demanding the Reds do not take their game in hand for granted as West Ham - who recorded a 1-0 home win over Liverpool at the end of January - bid to bounce back.

"As footballers, when you are on the end of a battering you hurt and you want to put it right straight away," Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.

"They'll come to Anfield hoping to get a good result, and a good result for them would be a draw. That's what they'll come here to get, but a draw is no good for us.

"We're desperate for the points, and we're at Anfield. We've been waiting for this game for a long time, now we've got to make it count."

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano has described his rival for a place in Liverpool's first-team Xabi Alonso as "one of the best midfielders in the world".

Alonso has had limited opportunities at Anfield this season, but he impressed in a starting role in the 3-1 away win over Bolton on Sunday and Mascherano - who recently made his loan stay with the Reds permanent - admits it was a pleasure to play alongside the 26-year-old.

"Xabi played really well against Bolton and I enjoyed playing with him," said Mascherano.

"It was not a surprise that he played well though because he is such a good player - he is one of the best midfielders in the world.

"He was not in the team but he kept on working hard in training and even though he is a Champions League winner he still played for the reserves last week and when his chance came against Bolton he played very well.

"Xabi is a very good passer of the ball and he is also a very intelligent player. It was good to play with him."