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The green shoots of recovery are evident at Liverpool where Kenny Dalglish has provoked a change in mood and mentality

It felt like springtime at Anfield. The sun came out just before the kick-off to illuminate a wonderfully entertaining match, but it was outshone by the smile on Kenny Dalglish’s face as, with his side 3-0 up on their fiercest rivals, he listened to the Kop celebrating his 60th birthday, which fell on Friday.

What Dalglish had seen, as he entered his seventh decade, was the unmistakeable sight of the green shoots of recovery. A club so long mired in doubt and despondency is emerging into the light. After that 1-0 victory over Chelsea four weeks ago, this defeat of Manchester United confirmed the reality of the changes in mood and mentality since the Scot took over in the first week of January.

Dirk Kuyt scored his first Liverpool hat‑trick – and the first goals of his career against Manchester United – but he would have been happy to ascribe the credit for his success to the prodigious efforts of Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan forward, who briefly made himself the most unpopular man in world football last summer by denying Ghana a place in the World Cup semi-finals, has now helped bring a long-lost sense of optimism back to Liverpool.

After Kuyt had struck for the third time, with 25 minutes left on the clock, there were smiles everywhere, but none bigger than on the face of Dalglish. He beamed when he sent on Andy Carroll, his £35m striker, with a quarter of an hour left, when he shook Suárez’s hand after withdrawing his goal-maker just before the end of normal time, and when he shared some sort of light-hearted exchange with his captain, Steven Gerrard, during added time.

Liverpool had begun this high-pressure fixture by producing football worthy of a side entirely comfortable with itself. As early as the second minute, interplay between Maxi Rodríguez, Suárez and Raul Meireles almost put Suárez in for an opening goal. While the visitors waited to take measure of the match, Dalglish’s men were patiently producing a series of accurate first-time passing moves that dictated the overall shape and rhythm of the exchanges.

Suárez should have been booked by Phil Dowd, rather than merely warned, for the volley of invective loosed at one of the linesmen for failing, in the Uruguayan’s view, to spot a foul by Patrice Evra just before the half-hour, but the first of his decisive contributions to the afternoon was not far away.

Anfield has been waiting a long time to see the sort of confidence he showed in broken play following the failure of the United defence to clear a corner from the right, when he set off on a twisting, jinking little dribble which took him past Rafael

West Ham United’s season continues to hint at revival. The Londoners hoisted themselves from the foot and up amidst the clutter of clubs on 28 points either side of the cut-off by bringing to a juddering halt Liverpool’s eight-match unbeaten run here. This was a notable success, achieved in the knowledge that Wolves’ thumping win the previous day had demanded a response. Avram Grant’s team provided just that.

There were jittery moments in the latter stages, when Liverpool finally hinted at a recovery following Glen Johnson’s goal, but reward for Carlton Cole in stoppage time smoothed the win. Defensive concern remains, but this team – even in the absence of the injured Robbie Keane – boasts the firepower to propel them from peril. Demba Ba appears an inspired signing, while Thomas Hitzlsperger’s return has taken the pressure off Scott Parker to dominate midfield single-handedly. There are reasons for optimism.

This was a result to hearten the absent co-chairman, David Gold, who had been taken ill and hospitalised with cholangitis and septicaemia. The tone of their performance was established early with Hitzlsperger’s eagerness to crunch shots at Pepe Reina from distance though, if those were crude in construction, there was grace and precision to West Ham’s opener. Liverpool were befuddled and by-passed as Lars Jacobsen found Scott Parker, the Londoners’ captain exchanging neat possession with Hizlsperger before curling a wonderful finish beyond Reina from just outside the penalty area.

The ground’s announcer hailed it “goal of the season”, though Martin Allen, in one of the more bizarre pitchside half-time interviews conducted on the big screens, suggested it was more of a toe-poke. Regardless, the hosts merited their lead and, as Liverpool readjusted to a back four with Martin Kelly hamstrung and departed, eked out further reward on the stroke of half-time. Ba’s leap over Danny Wilson and flick on to Rob Green’s punt, collected by Gary O’Neil, dragged the visitors’ back line horribly out of position. Jamie Carragher was charging out of the centre in an attempt to intercept when O’Neil’s cross flew beyond him for Ba to convert emphatically with Martin Skrtel prone and exposed.

This was an unexpected return to the shabby displays that had blighted the club prior to Kenny Dalglish’s second coming, Liverpool’s sloppiness before the interval making a mockery of optimistic pre-match talk that they could yet pluck Champions League qualification from a season of upheaval. Their best opportunities were initially gleaned on the break, but there was urgency after the interval with Luis Suárez drawing a fine save from Green after turning James Tomkins.

The goalkeeper had to be just as alert to turn over Steven Gerrard’s volley but, by then, West Ham should have put the result beyond doubt. Ba and Frédéric Piquionne had gone close, the latter mistiming his leap and nodding wide from in front of goal, with anxiety levels raised as the hosts tired late on. Jacobsen’s error allowed Suárez to centre for Johnson to tap in against his former club with six minutes remaining, Green’s furious reaction that of a man fearing the implications of the concession.

As it was, by the time Suárez next tested the goalkeeper’s reactions, the home side had re-established their two-goal lead courtesy of the substitute Cole’s shot, which beat Reina at his near post. This corner of the capital still has hope.

Premier LeagueWest Ham UnitedLiverpoolDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk

• Agent Peter Harrison claims Carroll is in breach of contract
• £35m transfer to Liverpool complicates matters

Andy Carroll’s £35m move to Liverpool has made his legal battle with the agent Peter Harrison all the fruitier. In a fortnight both men will present their respective cases to an arbitration panel convened by the Football Association.

Harrison alleges that Carroll is in breach of his exclusive representation contract signed in March 2009. It is believed the contract was for two years, meaning it would nominally run until next month. However, a few months after signing it, Carroll informed Harrison that he wanted a change and would join Mark Curtis, who represented his friend and then captain at Newcastle United, Kevin Nolan.

Harrison’s claim is that this put Carroll in breach of contract, resulting in a loss of earnings after he lost out on the agent’s fee from the striker’s contract renegotiation last summer. Monday’s transfer complicates matters.

Intriguingly Richard Green, the lawyer who is representing Carroll in the Harrison case, also represented Carroll in his negotiation with Liverpool. If the panel finds that Carroll was indeed in breach of contract, then it may have to consider whether Green contributed to the effect of that breach by subsequently being involved in a £35m transfer.

“There isn’t any conflict of interest at all,” Green told Digger. “I’ve acted on behalf of Andy for some time and advise him on legal issues.”

Andy CarrollNewcastle UnitedLiverpoolMatt Scottguardian.co.uk