Zola, in charge for a dozen matches, has watched his team earn three successive clean sheets in an unbeaten run that has dragged the side away from the bottom three.

And Zola hailed striker Craig Bellamy as "awesome" on the Welshman's first return to Anfield since his £7.5m move to east London 17 months ago.

Zola said: "I am very pleased with my side, that was the best term performance since I became manager.

"And as for Craig, he was awesome. Maybe he felt he had something to prove after leaving Liverpool, and he covered every blade of grass.

"I like what he does, not only as a striker but the hard work he puts in helping the midfield."

For Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, it was a case of more frustration and more home points dropped, even if they did take over at the top of the Premier League.

He said: "It was frustrating and I felt we deserved to win.

"We worked from the beginning to the end trying to win. The aim was to play well, and the team did just that, much better than before.

"The fans will be disappointed, we are disappointed, but we are at the top of the table.

"We had plenty of possession, we passed and moved the ball and had chances. If you play badly, do not have chances and your opponents have control then you can worry. That is not the case.

"We were much better and West Ham had chances only because we were attacking.

"I understand the crowd are disappointed after a home draw, but they can see we are top of the table."