LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard hopes the team’s crushing 4-1 victory over Manchester United will spur the Merseysiders on as they play catch-up at the top of the League.

Rafael Benitez’s side battled back from a goal down to defeat United in clinical fashion, Fernando Torres and Gerrard turning the match on its head before the break, with Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena easing Liverpool well clear before the end.

Gerrard said: “The important thing is that we have made the gap smaller. We realise that Manchester United are a fantastic team and there’s still a lot of work to do.

“We’ll need a little bit of luck along the way but hopefully that gives teams that play United a bit of belief that they can be beaten.”

The England midfielder was ecstatic to score his first ever goal at Old Trafford, but praised the team’s performance for their second four-goal haul of the week.

“I’ve been lucky enough to experience winning here before and that was also a magnificent feeling, but to score a goal after all the stick I’ve had from United fans over the last 10 years – well, it’s nice to score and rub it in.

“It was a great team performance. From front to back we worked very hard, and showed great character after going a goal down.”