We will turn our attentions to the other end of the table with live text commentary of the 16:00 GMT Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester at Villa Park.

Villa ended a nine-match winless league run with victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, while Leicester are enduring their own nine-match streak without a win.

The Foxes are rock bottom, but would move up a place with a win, while the Midlanders will be up to 11th with victory.

Carmine de Carabas: Third before Christmas. Shades of 1988. Can we hope for Europe? Fingers crossed!

Immsy: Is Andy Carroll a player Liverpool are missing at the moment?

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West Ham striker Andy Carroll, speaking to BBC Sport: "It is never a good sign going behind but we have fought back twice in a week to get the points, which is fantastic.

"It was a great feeling, it is fantastic to be back on the pitch and play as many games as I have in the last few weeks. There is nothing better than scoring goals as a striker, so I was desperate to get a goal and it is great feeling.

"You always have to just think about the positives [when injured], the medical staff have helped me a lot and it is credit to them that I am back.

"It is a great group of lads, they and the manager are over the moon, he is doing great at the minute. We just have to reach for the top and that is what we are doing, working as hard as we can to give performances like today."

Image source, Opta

What a performance from Andy Carroll. Not only did he break his 878-minute goal drought with a double, he also powerfully led the line and created Diafra Sakho's third. The touch graphic above shows his involvement this afternoon.

John Richards: West Ham are third, Southampton are fourth and Newcastle are pushing up the table after beating Chelsea yesterday. Wow. Just wow.

Stephen Noakes: Well Hammers, you'll be fourth after the Manchester United v Southampton match but still blooming impressive.

Nathan Critchlow: I recall Manchester City flying in December under Sven-Goran Eriksson. The ending? Lost 8-1 on last day and Sven sacked. Judge West Ham in May. Not now.

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Andy Carroll, speaking to Sky Sports: "We got the two goals and got the win it means a lot to the lads and it means a lot to me to get back on the scoresheet. United you score you don't feel like you are back but now I've scored I am definitely back.

"It is great to win three in a week, it is massive boost and it is a great thing for the club to achieve."

Image source, PA

Aston Villa make two changes to the side that won 1-0 at Crystal Palace last Tuesday, with forward Andreas Weimann and midfielder Joe Cole suspended and injured respectively. In come Carlos Sanchez and Charles N'Zogbia.

Aston Villa starting XI: Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Okore, Cissokho, Westwood, Sanchez, Cleverley, N'Zogbia, Benteke, Agbonlahor. Subs: Bacuna, Herd, Richardson, Given, Lowton, Robinson, Grealish.

Leicester also make two changes to the side that lost 3-1 at home to Liverpool last time out, defenders Liam Moore and Danny Simpson replacing Wes Morgan, who is suspended, and Ritchie De Laet.

Leicester City starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Moore, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Mahrez, James, Cambiasso, Schlupp, Ulloa, Vardy. Subs: Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Hamer, Powell, Nugent, Wood.

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen
BBC Radio London at the Boleyn Ground

"West Ham are flying high and this is an opportunity for them to go on and be the real surprise package of the season. Fourth is not beyond them. They are showing real consistency, while some of the other bigger teams have struggled this season. Today we saw Andy Carroll at his best in another really positive display, and West Ham still have players like Mark Noble to come back. With the depth of the squad they have, West Ham can earn European football at the end of the season."

West Ham had more of the ball, more shots on target and deserved the victory.

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen
BBC Radio London at the Boleyn Ground

"Not many teams are going to come and enjoy playing here this season. When you play against a side with this power and physicality, you are in for a tough afternoon. As this game has gone on, that is exactly what we have seen from West Ham. They kept pummelling Swansea with, forward passes and crosses raining into the box. Garry Monk was very positive after the red card, taking risks to force an equaliser, but Swansea buckled and West Ham took advantage."

Eight wins from their first 15 games of the season for West Ham,

The last manager to guide the Hammers to eight wins before Christmas was Harry Redknapp in 1998-99. They ended up finishing fifth. Take that West Ham fans?

Image source, Getty Images

Almost a third for Diafra Sakho as he strikes the ball at substitute goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.

Roseanne: Third in December. THIRD in DECEMBER!

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Swansea look demoralised. The moment goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was sent off for the visitors it was always going to be difficult but, even without that, West Ham looked the better team.

Five minutes of added on time signalled.

Image source, Getty Images

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen
BBC Radio London at the Boleyn Ground

"I am all for football being played on the floor but that was route one at its very best. Boomed down the pitch, a big centre-forward winning the flick on, and the second man taking it beyond the defence before thumping it past the goalkeeper. Game over."

Game over. Goalkeeper Adrian pumps the ball long, Andy Carroll flicks the ball on and Senegal international Diafra Sakho races through to emphatically finish.

What an impact Carroll has had this afternoon as West Ham look set to move to the heady heights of third in the Premier League. The Hammers are in dreamland.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Billy, Edinburgh: A deserved red card (see 77 mins). It shouldn't be a different outcome just because the player stayed on his feet. We ask players to try and stay on their feet and not go down, so you can't punish the player for doing so.

Mark, Oxford: Terrible decision. Not only has Diafra Sakho had and missed the goalscoring opportunity, but he's also handballed it. A recurring theme for Swansea this season.

James Collins on for Cheikhou Kouyate for West Ham. A centre back for a midfielder. Time to sit on the lead Sam?

West Ham are looking nervy all of a sudden. Seven minutes to see it out and move into third in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen
BBC Radio London at the Boleyn Ground

"Diafra Sakho offers such a threat (see 77 mins). He can run and is powerful, but right then he was maybe a bit too greedy. Andy Carroll was there at the far post, waiting to wrap up his hat-trick. The West Ham staff will wait to see if Carl Jenkinson has a muscle pull or a tear. If he's got a tear that could rule him out for up to six weeks."