Kuyt keeps Champions League hopes burning

LIVERPOOL forward Dirk Kuyt believes a Champions League qualifying place is still within reach.

The Reds have climbed to sixth in the Barclays Premier League after embarking on a six-game unbeaten run under caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish.

They remain eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham but the Londoners’ loss at Blackpool in midweek and Liverpool’s improving form has kept hope of a late charge alive.

Kuyt said: “I think in the league this season, where so many teams are dropping points, a lot of things are possible.

“But we have to look to ourselves – we are unbeaten for a while now, let’s have another three points on Sunday and then let’s see where we are in five or six games.

“If we can close the gap a little bit more, who knows what is possible?

“It is always good when you see your rivals dropping points, but at the end of the day you have to bring the points in yourself.”

Liverpool will travel to Upton Park tomorrow fresh from securing a place in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Kuyt claimed the only goal of a testing and scrappy tie against Sparta Prague when he headed home with just five minutes of the second leg remaining at Anfield.

Dalglish’s men will now play Portuguese side SC Braga for a place in the quarter-finals.

Holland international Kuyt, 30, said: “It was a relief, but I thought we created enough chances to score a goal – we just waited too long.

“But at the end of the day, it is the winning that counts.”

Liverpool’s improvement has been delivered without some key players.

Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard has missed the last three games with a groin injury but could return.

Striker Luis Suarez has been ineligible for Europe and Glen Johnson was also absent on Thursday with an Achilles problem.

Record £35million signing Andy Carroll is making good progress in his recovery from a thigh strain but is still unlikely to start tomorrow.

Injuries are something West Ham manager Avram Grant has also had his fill of this season.

The Israeli, who is hoping Matthew Upson will soon be available for selection after training yesterday, says his side’s hopes of staying in the Premier League could rest on getting more players fit. Upson aggravated an Achilles injury during the Hammers’ 1-0 defeat to Birmingham three weeks ago and it had been feared he would be out for the rest of the season.

He is unlikely to be considered tomorrow but Grant is hoping his star defender, and his other sidelined players like Robbie Keane, Jack Collison and Kieron Dyer, will be fit soon.

“It’s important when you get to the last few games that you have all your players available,” said Grant. “We need them back to create competition within the squad. It’s no secret that part of our problem this season has been injuries at the wrong time.

“All the players we have out were good before they got injured so it hasn’t been easy.”