Skrtel: That was the perfect performance
'The perfect performance' is how Martin Skrtel labelled Liverpool's Merseyside derby heroics on Tuesday evening after they recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory over Everton.
The teams went into the game with just two places and one point separating them in the Barclays Premier League table; however, a vintage performance from the Reds made it a night that will live long in the memory at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard's thumping header set Liverpool on their way before Daniel Sturridge's quick-fire brace gave Brendan Rodgers' side a healthy half-time advantage.
Luis Suarez put the icing on the cake in the early stages of the second period, racing from inside his own half before dispatching beyond Tim Howard at the Kop end.
"It's a great feeling. This was a very important game for us with only one point separating the teams," Skrtel reflected afterwards when speaking to the Liverpool Echo.
"We knew before the game it wouldn't be easy because Everton have been in great form, but we wanted the three points so much and we're always confident when we play at home.
"It was the perfect performance from us. Everyone worked so hard. We had great support from the fans and that really helped.
"We started better than them and kept it that way for the full 90 minutes."
Liverpool had a host of strong contenders for the man-of-the-match accolade - and Skrtel admits he was hard pressed to single out a star man.
He continued: "The message before kick-off was to play our own game.
"We wanted to be positive, control the game and score goals. That worked perfectly in the first half.
"In the second half it was just a case of ensuring we continued to play at that level.
"There were parts of the game when we dominated and other parts of the game when we settled down and played on the counter attack.
"For Daniel to score two goals was great and he could have had more with the penalty.
"But it wasn't only about Daniel. Stevie scored a great goal to put us in front and every single Liverpool player who went on the pitch was perfect tonight. We performed brilliantly and fully deserved the three points."
It wasn't just in the final third that Liverpool were on top form, with the back four standing firm to shut out Everton and clinch a fourth clean sheet in six games.
"We have been working every single day on the training pitch to try to improve our defence," explained Skrtel.
"It's not only about the 'keeper or the back four, it's about the whole team defending better. This was a big step forward.
"It's always nice to keep a clean sheet but the most important thing is always to win. I would rather we won 6-4 than drew 0-0.
"With the FA Cup win too, that's two clean sheets in a row and hopefully we can make it three at West Brom on Sunday."
Liverpool's victory opened up a four-point gap over Everton and kept them in fourth position in the Barclays Premier League table.
While Skrtel concedes the result could prove to be influential in determining the final standings, he's keen to stress there's no time to rest on any laurels.
"If we keep performing like that then we can finish in the top four," the Slovakian concluded.
"There is a four point difference between us and Everton now, and there aren't too many games left to be played before the end of the season.
"It's a great result but we need to keep going. We know what we are playing for and we must try to play like that every week.
"At West Brom on Sunday and we need to repeat this performance and get another three points."