Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Since making his debut 400 games ago in late 1998, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has answered the Reds rallying calls on a frequent basis.
After a run of three defeats on the bounce, culminating in the dismal weekend showing at Sunderland, Kenny Dalglish's men knew defeat to Merseyside rivals Everton would see the Toffees leapfrog above them.
Step forward Gerrard. Fit again after sustaining a hamstring twinge on England duty, the Reds talisman hit a stunning hat-trick to ease the pressure the Anfield men and leave Blues' manager David Moyes still searching for his first win at Anfield on his 10th anniversary as Goodison Park boss.
After differing fortunes at the weekend, both sides made changes to their starting line-ups. For Liverpool, as well as the returning Gerrard, Dalglish recalled Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. He also added to the scouse element of his team by naming Jamie Carragher ahead of Sebastian Coates. After a fantastic home win against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Everton boss Moyes clearly had one eye on this weekend's upcoming FA Cup quarter-final with Sunderland, when he surprisingly named six changes to his side with Phil Neville, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic amongst those relegated to the bench.
At a packed and vibrant Anfield, the home side started quickly. With the triumvirate of Gerrard-Suarez-Carroll starting together for the first time in a league game, the Reds speed and movement was noticeably different to that displayed on Wearside on Saturday. Luis Suarez nearly played in Carroll as early as the second minute, then only four minutes later neat work between Suarez and Gerrard saw Tim Howard save, then Jack Rodwell produce a fantastic block to stop Jordan Henderson firing home the rebound.
Everton finally got a meaningful touch of the ball when Leighton Baines brilliantly skipped down the left flank to tee up Steven Pienaar, but the South African midfielder fired wildly into the Kop.
With Everton adopting a 5-man midfield, Liverpool continued to look the most likely team to score. After a recent dip in form following his off-the-field problems, Suarez looked back to his normal lively best. When a Carroll header fell in front of the Uruguayan striker, keeper Howard had to be at his best to stop keep out Suarez left-foot drive.
On 33 minutes though there was nothing Howard could do as Liverpool took the lead. When an Everton attack broke down midway through the Liverpool half, a flowing Reds counter-attack saw Suarez feed the ball wide to the overlapping Martin Kelly. When the right-back's shot was spilled by Howard, Kelly's pressure saw the ball rebound to the edge of the box, where Gerrard was waiting to brilliantly chip the ball over a packed defence into the empty net.
Minutes later, the impressive Kelly bombed down the right again and this time sent a low shot fizzing just past the far post.
Everton responded with lone striker Denis Stracqualursi's header forcing Pepe Reina down low, but the Reds deservedly lead as the half-time whistle went.
Throughout the half-time interval, rumours were abound that Gerrard was suffering with an injury, but the Reds skipper did take his place as the game restarted. And within five minutes he had doubled his and Liverpool's account.
Suarez run down the right saw him reach the byline before cutting back. As he lined up a left-footed shot, the on-rushing Gerrard beat him to the ball and duly thumped it high past Howard from no more than 10 yards.
Suarez then produced a similar bit of magic down the left to set-up Carroll, who fired agonisingly wide of the far post. Kelly then fluffed a chance to cap a fine performance when he failed to connect to a cross from only six yards out.
Finally Everton changed tactics, with the attacking trio of Jelavic, Osman and Royston Drenthe introduced just after the hour mark. It nearly worked when Jack Rodwell's goalbound shot was cleared by Jose Enrique, and Jelavic hit the side-netting after more good work by Baines.
But that was as close as the Toffees would come as Liverpool hit cruise control. With the result sewn up all that was left to be answered was whether or not Gerrard would get a chance to wrap up his hat-trick, a question which was emphatically answered as stoppage time approached.
Once again Suarez was involved. The striker received a pass from Gerrard and bore down on goal, but instead of going himself, he cut back and rolled the ball across goal for his skipper to fire left-footed into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick, the first scored in a Merseyside derby since Ian Rush was in his pomp.
After a dismal set of results in the league, this victory, and in particular the performance of Gerrard, will give Dalglish's men confidence as they prepare for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Stoke City as they look to close in on a domestic cup double.
At a packed and vibrant Anfield, the home side started quickly. With the triumvirate of Gerrard-Suarez-Carroll starting together for the first time in a league game, the Reds speed and movement was noticeably different to that displayed on Wearside on Saturday. Luis Suarez nearly played in Carroll as early as the second minute, then only four minutes later neat work between Suarez and Gerrard saw Tim Howard save, then Jack Rodwell produce a fantastic block to stop Jordan Henderson firing home the rebound.
Everton finally got a meaningful touch of the ball when Leighton Baines brilliantly skipped down the left flank to tee up Steven Pienaar, but the South African midfielder fired wildly into the Kop.
With Everton adopting a 5-man midfield, Liverpool continued to look the most likely team to score. After a recent dip in form following his off-the-field problems, Suarez looked back to his normal lively best. When a Carroll header fell in front of the Uruguayan striker, keeper Howard had to be at his best to stop keep out Suarez left-foot drive.
On 33 minutes though there was nothing Howard could do as Liverpool took the lead. When an Everton attack broke down midway through the Liverpool half, a flowing Reds counter-attack saw Suarez feed the ball wide to the overlapping Martin Kelly. When the right-back's shot was spilled by Howard, Kelly's pressure saw the ball rebound to the edge of the box, where Gerrard was waiting to brilliantly chip the ball over a packed defence into the empty net.
Minutes later, the impressive Kelly bombed down the right again and this time sent a low shot fizzing just past the far post.
Everton responded with lone striker Denis Stracqualursi's header forcing Pepe Reina down low, but the Reds deservedly lead as the half-time whistle went.
Throughout the half-time interval, rumours were abound that Gerrard was suffering with an injury, but the Reds skipper did take his place as the game restarted. And within five minutes he had doubled his and Liverpool's account.
Suarez run down the right saw him reach the byline before cutting back. As he lined up a left-footed shot, the on-rushing Gerrard beat him to the ball and duly thumped it high past Howard from no more than 10 yards.
Suarez then produced a similar bit of magic down the left to set-up Carroll, who fired agonisingly wide of the far post. Kelly then fluffed a chance to cap a fine performance when he failed to connect to a cross from only six yards out.
Finally Everton changed tactics, with the attacking trio of Jelavic, Osman and Royston Drenthe introduced just after the hour mark. It nearly worked when Jack Rodwell's goalbound shot was cleared by Jose Enrique, and Jelavic hit the side-netting after more good work by Baines.
But that was as close as the Toffees would come as Liverpool hit cruise control. With the result sewn up all that was left to be answered was whether or not Gerrard would get a chance to wrap up his hat-trick, a question which was emphatically answered as stoppage time approached.
Once again Suarez was involved. The striker received a pass from Gerrard and bore down on goal, but instead of going himself, he cut back and rolled the ball across goal for his skipper to fire left-footed into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick, the first scored in a Merseyside derby since Ian Rush was in his pomp.
After a dismal set of results in the league, this victory, and in particular the performance of Gerrard, will give Dalglish's men confidence as they prepare for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Stoke City as they look to close in on a domestic cup double.
Liverpool News 24/7
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