Jacobsen yesterday helped the Hammers keep their hopes of a great escape alive as they produced arguably their best performance of the season to beat Liverpool 3-1 and climb off the foot of the table.

They have now netted 11 goals in their last three games in all competitions, with Carlton Cole and new loan signing Demba Ba scoring the lion's share.

However, they have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since New Year's Day and went close to throwing away victory yesterday before Cole came off the bench to thwart a late Liverpool rally.

"It seems like we're able to score now. We just need to keep a clean sheet," said right-back Jacobsen, whose mix-up with team-mate James Tomkins led to the visitors' goal yesterday.

"I thought he was going for it and, obviously, he thought I was going for it.

"We can't allow that to happen again. It's just bad."

As well as their strikers, the Hammers' midfielders have also been weighing in with goals in recent games, Thomas Hitzlsperger scoring on his long-awaited debut against Burnley and the talismanic Scott Parker finding the net yesterday.

Jacobsen said: "I think we can score goals from a lot of positions on the pitch and that certainly makes a difference.

"It's important to be a threat from the midfield positions."

The late defensive wobble did not detract from one of West Ham's best displays since Jacobsen joined the club last summer.

The Dane said: "I think it's one of the top performances, no doubt about that.

"I think it was a fully deserved victory. I know the last 20-25 minutes, we were a little bit on the heels.

"I think it's normal in our situation. You get a little bit scared of conceding goals.

"But I think in the main part of the game, we played brilliant football, we created chances and we defended well.

"So it was one of the best performances for sure."

He added: "Obviously, the three points were very important - we all know about that.

"But, mentally, beating Liverpool is tremendous and hopefully it can give us a lot going into the next couple of games.

"It's not enough to win.

"We need to win some more games and hopefully it can help us, this victory."

Liverpool's defeat was their first major setback since Kenny Dalglish's appointment sparked a mini revival.

More bad news was expected today on right-back Martin Kelly, who was forced off yesterday with what looked like a serious hamstring injury.

The England Under-21 international, who was due to undergo a scan, told his club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "I knew straight away I had injured my hamstring.

"I took Scott Parker on down the right and when I took my last touch I felt a pull in my hamstring and there was no way I could carry on.

"I'm usually a quick healer and we have good medical staff at the club, so hopefully I will be back soon."

With reports suggesting a four-week absence, Kelly looks certain to miss Sunday's mouthwatering game against Manchester United.

He added: "We were all disappointed with the result and our performance on Sunday and we've got to put this behind us and look forward to the big game against Manchester United at Anfield.

"It's at home, we will have our fans behind us and hopefully we can give them the result we all want."

Meanwhile, West Ham today appointed their former captain Steve Lomas as reserve-team manager, succeeding Alex Dyer who left to become Charlton's assistant manager.