It was a fantastic relief to get that winning feeling back in our victory up at Sunderland. It is never easy when you are in a run of form like we were in. We were playing well but just not picking up points. While it is OK to keep saying the right things, eventually the proof is in the points.
Not only did we deserve to win the game, but the way we defended was excellent - another clean sheet - two in a week which is great and a good habit to have. Just before half-time, we could have made the scoreline look a lot more comfortable, but it was great that we built on the draw at Portsmouth the week before.
As a team, I thought there wasn't anyone that didn't perform. But I thought Matty Upson and Ginge [James Collins] were outstanding on the day, Valon [Behrami], as always, was full of energy, running and enthusiasm and it was fantastic for him to score his first goal for West Ham.
We now take this winning feeling into a very tough game. This is a strange three games coming up for us, if you remember last year, we had these fixtures together like this and it was 0-4, 0-4, 0-4.
The matches are in a slightly different order this season and I am, as we all are, very confident that the scorelines will be a lot different then they were in that crazy week last year.
Anfield is always a tough place to go and we will be coming up against a team full of fantastic players, so it is going to be interesting. We will know where we sit in the league table at the end of the weekend, with everyone else having played before us.
We will be going there knowing we have to work hard. But we will give ourselves a chance if we can keep a clean sheet for a long period of the game, because you will always get one or two chances at Anfield and it will be up to us to be ruthless enough to take them.
Obviously, the likes of Craig Bellamy, coming back to play at one of his old clubs, will be determined to have a really good game and hopefully he will get on the scoresheet.
It is our second away match in a week, so thanks to all the fans that took the very long journey to Sunderland last Sunday afternoon to support us. You were all in good voice, well heard by all the boys on the pitch.
Also, in advance, thank you to all those who will sacrifice their Monday to travel up the M6 to see us play at Liverpool. It is a great ground to play at and to visit. Obviously it will only be a great ground if we can come away with something. So let's hope we can give you a reward for your loyal support.
Off the pitch this week saw the club supporting the Bobby Moore Fund. Hayden [Mullins] was our representative when he attended a special sports quiz. The fund as you all know, is one of the club's partners and does a lot of work in Bobby Moore's name to raise money and awareness to fund research into bowel cancer.
Hayden, by all accounts, represented us very well and we were delighted to once again be supporting such a fantastic cause.
Back to the pitch, it is exciting period of games coming up, starting with this one up at Liverpool. Let's hope we can get a bit of revenge for last year and return home with a great result.
Lucas Neill