Confident Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool should have won by an even greater margin after claiming victory over Everton.
A seventh-minute goal from Fernando Torres ultimately settled the 207th Merseyside derby at Anfield yesterday.
It ensured Rafael Benitez’s side opened up a five-point lead on their neighbours in the race for fourth place and the final Champions League qualification berth.
Liverpool dominated the first half before withstanding a belated Everton recovery after half-time as the hosts spurned a variety of good chances to add to their advantage.
And Gerrard, who was denied a spectacular goal of his own by the width of the post, reckons the visitors at times struggled to cope with their city rivals.
“It was a good win but we’re slightly disappointed we didn’t make it more comfortable in the first half, because we had plenty of chances to kill the game off,” said the Liverpool skipper.
“But I never once thought we’d lose the game or give a goal away.
“You’re always after a quick start in the derby and a quick goal and we got that, and in the first half we completely dominated the game. We maybe deserved a bigger margin of victory.
“We dominated for large parts of the game and we couldn’t quite convert another goal in the first half, and I was disappointed when my effort came back off the post.”
With only six league games remaining, Liverpool are now firm favourites to hold off their neighbours and retain their top-four place for Champions League qualification.
However, Gerrard insists there will be no complacency with the Anfield outfit preparing for a triple-header against Arsenal in the Champions League and Premier League over the next nine days.
“It was a big win and we knew how important this game would be for us,” said Gerrard.
“Hopefully now we can continue to pick up wins until the end of the season and grab that fourth spot.
“Credit to Everton they came back strongly in the second half – we couldn’t quite get that second goal which made it harder.
“But we are winning games and you’re happy as long as you are winning. These games are also about bragging rights and I’m sure the supporters will be pleased.
“We still have difficult games to go so it was important to get the result.”
Gerrard added: “For the time being the pressure is off us having to win the Champions League to qualify for the competition, because we know we have a gap now.
“But although we have to massive Champions League games coming up against Arsenal, we have to make sure we put a big performance in for the Premier League game in between and maintain that five-point gap or even increase it.”
Torres’s goal was his 28th of the season – 21 of them coming in the Premier League – and an admiring skipper Gerrard said: “It’s no shock to me the way Fernando finished for his goal.
“Give the guy the chances and he will put them away.”
Everton were shorn of a number of key personnel in attack and Gerrard concedes that perhaps blunted the threat going forward of David Moyes’s side.
“I think looking at Everton’s teamsheet and the way they lined up, they were playing for a draw,” he said.
“Maybe if Andrew Johnson had been fit, they may have been a bit more positive.
“But you have to give us credit for our performance, Everton couldn’t live with us in the first 45 minutes.”
A seventh-minute goal from Fernando Torres ultimately settled the 207th Merseyside derby at Anfield yesterday.
It ensured Rafael Benitez’s side opened up a five-point lead on their neighbours in the race for fourth place and the final Champions League qualification berth.
Liverpool dominated the first half before withstanding a belated Everton recovery after half-time as the hosts spurned a variety of good chances to add to their advantage.
And Gerrard, who was denied a spectacular goal of his own by the width of the post, reckons the visitors at times struggled to cope with their city rivals.
“It was a good win but we’re slightly disappointed we didn’t make it more comfortable in the first half, because we had plenty of chances to kill the game off,” said the Liverpool skipper.
“But I never once thought we’d lose the game or give a goal away.
“You’re always after a quick start in the derby and a quick goal and we got that, and in the first half we completely dominated the game. We maybe deserved a bigger margin of victory.
“We dominated for large parts of the game and we couldn’t quite convert another goal in the first half, and I was disappointed when my effort came back off the post.”
With only six league games remaining, Liverpool are now firm favourites to hold off their neighbours and retain their top-four place for Champions League qualification.
However, Gerrard insists there will be no complacency with the Anfield outfit preparing for a triple-header against Arsenal in the Champions League and Premier League over the next nine days.
“It was a big win and we knew how important this game would be for us,” said Gerrard.
“Hopefully now we can continue to pick up wins until the end of the season and grab that fourth spot.
“Credit to Everton they came back strongly in the second half – we couldn’t quite get that second goal which made it harder.
“But we are winning games and you’re happy as long as you are winning. These games are also about bragging rights and I’m sure the supporters will be pleased.
“We still have difficult games to go so it was important to get the result.”
Gerrard added: “For the time being the pressure is off us having to win the Champions League to qualify for the competition, because we know we have a gap now.
“But although we have to massive Champions League games coming up against Arsenal, we have to make sure we put a big performance in for the Premier League game in between and maintain that five-point gap or even increase it.”
Torres’s goal was his 28th of the season – 21 of them coming in the Premier League – and an admiring skipper Gerrard said: “It’s no shock to me the way Fernando finished for his goal.
“Give the guy the chances and he will put them away.”
Everton were shorn of a number of key personnel in attack and Gerrard concedes that perhaps blunted the threat going forward of David Moyes’s side.
“I think looking at Everton’s teamsheet and the way they lined up, they were playing for a draw,” he said.
“Maybe if Andrew Johnson had been fit, they may have been a bit more positive.
“But you have to give us credit for our performance, Everton couldn’t live with us in the first 45 minutes.”
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