Steven Gerrard marked his 400th Premier League appearance with a brilliant hat-trick as Liverpool outclassed Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The Reds captain had been struggling with a hamstring injury but produced a virtuoso display to end his side's run of three straight league defeats.
Gerrard opened the scoring with a superb lofted finish and doubled the lead with a powerful close-range drive.
He completed the victory by sweeping in after linking up with Luis Suarez.
The result - Liverpool's first league win since 31 January - sees Kenny Dalglish's side close to within two points of sixth-place Newcastle.
Everton remain ninth on 37 points having missed the chance to leapfrog their local rivals.
David Moyes celebrates 10 years in charge at Goodison Park on Wednesday but the headlines will belong to Liverpool and their skipper.
It was one of the few occasions that Gerrard and Suarez have started together this season and they showed what their team had been missing.
The pair, along with the impressive Andy Carroll, combined to ensure a miserable night for Everton and Moyes.
