The Reds captain says humiliating the Gunners at Anfield ranks alongside the very best matches of his illustrious career but warns his team-mates must maintain their form

Steven Gerrard has placed Liverpool’s 5-1 hammering of Arsenal on Saturday in the top three of his career.

The Reds scored four goals in the first 20 minutes and added another just after half-time against a Gunners side that arrived at Anfield as Premier League leaders.

And Gerrard believes the performance bares comparison with almost any in his 16 illustrious years in the game.
  
“That is right up there,” the England captain told reporters when asked about his team’s display.

“I am trying to think back of a performance – especially in the first half – that I can remember in the last 15 years.

“Maybe one or two in the Champions League got close but that was as explosive as it gets. That’s definitely in the top three performances I have been involved in.

“You are talking about a side that is top of the league with world-class players, ones who are worth £42 million.

“Jack Wilshere, one of the country’s big hopes who we are looking to perform at a World Cup, and (Santi) Cazorla – a World Cup winner. We have absolutely demolished a top team there from start to finish.

“If you stand off Arsenal and give them too much respect, they will pass you to death. They beat us 2-0 last year when we showed them too much respect.”

The win boosts Liverpool’s chances of cementing fourth spot and a place in the Champions League next season, but Gerrard warns it will mean nothing if they slip up against Fulham on Wednesday.
 
“I think the thing after a performance like that is can we motivate ourselves to get close to producing something similar against Fulham?” he questioned.

“We performed fantastic against Everton and then slipped up against West Brom having taken the lead. We should have seen that game out.

“You can set markers and you can have one off games but it means nothing if you don’t continue to play well and get something from it at the end of the season.

“We aren’t going to look back at the end of the season and think ‘how good were we against Arsenal?’ if we never got the top four.”

Check out the best photos from the latest round of matches throughout the footballing world

offers you the most illuminating images from across the globe. Enjoy! …

Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic is embraced by Philipp Lahm after netting for Bayern Munich

Liverpool supporters pass abandoned houses on their way to their club’s clash with Arsenal at Anfield

Raheem Sterling is congratulated by Luis Suarez after adding to Liverpool’s tally against Arsenal

Darren Bent piles more misery on Manchester United with a last-minute equaliser for Fulham

Pablo Osvaldo sees his shot hit the post in the first minute of Juventus’ game at Verona

Montpellier’s M’Baye Niang enjoying life on the field despite his troubles off it

Roma fans are stifled by their own smoke in their derby against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico

Lionel Messi battles the conditions as Barcelona defeat Sevilla 4-1 on a rain-soaked pitch

A Benfica staff member looks upset as the match against Sporting is abandoned amid security fears

Leonardo Pisculichi netts on his return to Argentinos Juniors (credit: Fotos Télam)

Manuel Friedrich adds the third goal as Borussia Dortmund dismantle Werder Breman 5-1

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts as Paris Saint Germain are held to a 1-1 draw against Monaco

Josip Ilicic wheels away after netting the opening goal for Fiorentina against Atalanta

Jermain Defoe is hoisted up high after playing his last game at White Hart Lane

Jose Mourinho’s men have been cut into 5/4 favourites to win the Premier League title after another impressive win over Newcastle United

A week ago Chelsea were celebrating a 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and the weekend’s results gave Blues backers even more reason to celebrate.

While Mourinho’s men saw off Newcastle 3-0 thanks to another majestic display from Eden Hazard, Manuel Pellegrini’s men laboured to a 0-0 draw against Norwich.

In truth, it could of been worse for City as both Anthony Pilkington and Ricky van Wolfswinkel spurned chances, while Gary Hooper’s first-half strike was ruled out for offside.

Saturday’s stalemate saw Chelsea elevated to top spot, a point above Arsenal, who were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool, and two points clear of Manchester City after 25 games.

Paddy Power make Chelsea 5/4 (2.25) favourites to win the Premier League title, with Manchester City available at 7/5 (2.40) and Arsenal now a distant 13/2 (7.50) chance.

Liverpool have been clipped to an industry best 14/1 (15.0) by the Irish bookmaker after their impressive win at Anfield left them just six points off the league leaders, but their quotes suggest that in reality the Premier League has become a two-horse race.

Despite a spirited draw at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, Fulham are still short-priced favourites to be relegated at 4/9 (1.44) , while Cottagers boss Rene Meulensteen is 5/4 (2.25) to be the next manager to leave his post.

The remaining relegation places look somewhat more open, with Cardiff (5/6), Crystal Palace (13/8), Sunderland (15/8) and Norwich (7/4) all available at under 2/1 to be playing Championship football next season.

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