Scott Parker has said the players' thoughts have already shifted from success at Sunderland to their second consecutive trip to the north.
Parker was instrumental in helping the Hammers to three points at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, and the midfielder will be hoping they can carry their good form into Monday's game against Liverpool. It was the second clean sheet in a row and the new-found defensive stability will be much needed for the match at Anfield.
"People have been questioning our defending but against Sunderland we were the first to everything, second balls as well and we really shut the door on them," Parker said. "On a personal level, it was the kind of game I enjoy and it was one that I was pleased to be on the winning side of."
The 1-0 scoreline ended a run of seven games without a win and Parker believed it would provide a timely boost as the squad knuckle down to more hard training this week. "I think the lads were up for it against Sunderland," he said. "We could feel the pressure a little bit as things hadn't been going for us, so it was certainly a game where we had to put in a performance."
The No8 - who was given the man of the match award by the Sky Sports team - hopes the win indicated the side have now turned a corner in their season. He said: "I think it was paramount we got the three points against Sunderland. We went there after a bad run of games when results hadn't been going our way.
"We had been playing some nice stuff but not getting the points, so the important thing was the result. On Sunday we didn't play as well as we had done over the previous three weeks but we got the result, which was the most important thing."