Cisse gave the Reds the lead after 19 minutes following some good work by Momo Sissoko. Sissoko ran the ball to the edge of the Hammers area where he was crowded out by three West Ham defenders. However, the Mali international was still able to pass the ball out to Cisse on his left who hammered the ball home.
West Ham had chances to equalise in the first half but Jerzy Dudek wasn't really tested and it was Liverpool who had the best chances to score the game's second goal with Cisse and Robbie Fowler both testing the West Ham goalkeeper.
The game was level a mere minute into the second half however, when Nigel Reo-Coker ran onto a Bobby Zamora pass and beat Dudek from six yards out.
West Ham's joy was short lived however. Fernando Morientes went straight back up the other end and was unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the bar before Cisse scored his second of the night to restore Liverpool's lead.
The goal was a blow to West Ham who were having their best period of the match at the point. Although the Hammers pressed for another equaliser the Reds were in charge from that point on and never looked like conceding again.
What would have been a very good performance from the makeshift Reds was soured in the 82nd minute when subsitute Luis Garcia was sent off, along with West Ham's Hayden Mullins, for fighting. It could be a costly red card for both players as they may now miss the FA Cup final through suspension.