Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 in English soccer's Premiership to close in on second-place Chelsea and keep its opponent in the relegation zone.

Dirk Kuyt scored about 10 seconds into the second half and Peter Crouch made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute in London as Liverpool won its fifth straight game in the league. West Ham, with Kepa Blanco scoring in the 77th minute, is winless in seven matches.

Liverpool has 49 points, two fewer than Chelsea, while Manchester United leads with 57. United hosts Watford and Chelsea hosts Blackburn tomorrow.

``West Ham are fighting for their lives, and it was important we got a good result,'' Crouch, who turned 26 today, told Sky Sports. ``Scoring as well capped it off for me.''

West Ham stayed two points behind Wigan in the final safety spot after Wigan lost its ninth straight, 3-2 at Reading. Sheffield United beat Fulham 2-0 to move seven points above the relegation zone, while Portsmouth tied 0-0 with Middlesbrough.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina tipped away Marlon Harewood's low effort in the first half before Kuyt delivered a shot off the crossbar for his fourth goal in five games. Crouch got his third in two matches with a swerving drive into the corner.

Blanco, making his debut on loan from Sevilla, converted a cross to cut the deficit. It was the first Premiership goal Liverpool allowed in five games.

Reading fell behind at home when Emile Heskey scored in the third minute. Ivar Ingimarsson, Shane Long and Leroy Lita made it 3-1, with Denny Landzaat cutting the deficit five minutes into injury time. Reading rose a place, to seventh, a point behind Portsmouth.

Jon Stead scored his first goal in 11 games and Michael Tonge got his first of the season for Sheffield United at home against Fulham, which lost for the first time in 11 games.

Portsmouth, chasing a spot in Europe, is winless in three games, while Middlesbrough extended its unbeaten run to seven games to rise one spot, to 10th.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ravi Ubha in London at rubha@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 30, 2007 17:18 EST