Rodgers: The secret to stunning United

Steven Gerrard was the heartbeat of an effervescent display at Old Trafford, driving his team forward and placing two purposeful, precise penalties beyond David De Gea in either half.

After the skipper had been denied a hat-trick from the spot by the woodwork, Luis Suarez iced the tastiest of cakes by side-footing home to seal another remarkable triumph in this incredible season.

The manager was naturally enamoured by the contribution of his captain, hailing the 33-year-old as a 'great inspiration', coupling his personal effort with a tactical switch in personnel as the reasons for winning.

At his post-match press conference, the Northern Irishman reflected:  "I thought we were outstanding today. We had real dominance in the game. From the first whistle, our intent to attack, to press and to work as a team was outstanding.

"I thought we could have had more goals. We were really aggressive in our game going forward, just that final pass or final touch might have been a bit better to finish them off even more.

"The aggression in our game was there to see. We attacked with great intent. It was a very good attacking performance.

"We continue to play well and work well. It's obviously a big win against a huge rival; two of the biggest British clubs and renowned worldwide. To dominate the game like that was very pleasing.

"I wanted to play and have superiority on the inside. I like to flood numbers around the middle of the field in order to control and dominate the game.

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"Manchester United's centre-halves drop off, so we could exploit the space in front of that with Raheem's speed and then introduce Philippe [Coutinho] to the game.

"We worked it the other way against Southampton, where we felt that we could play through and get it into Philippe, who could then open the game up, then bring Raheem into it later when it opens up.

"In this game, because of the pitch and the nature of Manchester United, being at home they have to attack, it would allow us to get round the back of their midfield. For a young player of 19 years of age, he is developing really well tactically.

"Both boys on the side - Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen - were exceptional. They very rarely get mentioned, especially Joe Allen. But the tactical intelligence of both to play on the side of a diamond, with Steven just in behind controlling and dictating the tempo, was very good."

On Gerrard in particular, the boss continued: "He's always [a big player for big games]. I think he is peerless, in many ways. He showed great composure - I'm obviously disappointed for him with the one he missed.

"He has taken to that role very well and the responsibility. You saw some of his range of passing today, he's got legs on and about him and can still cover the ground well.

"I don't think there are many who can do what he does - from one of the world's leading attacking players to then fall into a position in the other half of the field.

"He spent most of his life in the attacking half, he's now come into the other half of the field to orchestrate and conduct the game. He's shown wonderful tactical intelligence in doing that and is a great inspiration for our young players."

Rodgers was also keen to highlight the performance of defender Jon Flanagan, who turned in the latest in a line of 90 minutes in which he provided a stubborn presence in the Reds' backline.

"I think what has been impressive with Jon, from my perspective, is in the big games he's performed," the 41-year-old reflected.

"He's a young player who has had to bide, but I've watched him closely on the training field and his development, and with the exercises we do with the ball and technique, he's become better.

"He's been able to tactically implement that into his game. He's a very, very important member of our squad. He can play right-back, he can play left-back, and as you can see he is tactically very good.

"He is hard to beat in a duel and is very, very committed. It's great to see young players like that develop and get better."

Many of the questions from journalists at the briefing centred on Liverpool's potential to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title - with the boss adamant in his focus on simply the next fixture.

He reiterated: "I'm just focusing on our own team. We've got nine games left - we might win all nine and still lose it. We will just focus on our next game, that's Cardiff. I'm only focusing on our next game and looking to get three points.

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"All the teams will drop points; we may well drop points, we may not. I can only look at our next game, I've done that since I've walked in the door. I'm not going to change now.

"We get better with the methods and obviously that gives us confidence and belief. We try to remain dignified in our work and just get on with coaching the players to be better. We're up there on merit, so of course we have an opportunity.

"We have a mentality that has been developing over the course of the 18 months I've been here. We expect to win home and away. The belief is in the players now and you see that in their game.

"I'm very fortunate I've got outstanding owners. The owners have never buckled from when they offered me the job.

"They've given me freedom to work, which I needed, in order to implement the ideas and do what I wanted to do transfer-wise. As a football club, we're restoring that solidity as a group, both on and off the field.

"It's my job to take that pressure away from them. All I ever ask of them is to do their best and you can see how hard they work.

"The quality of our training, the intensity of the training - there won't be many teams working harder than us on a day-to-day basis on the training field to improve and develop players.

"They can go as a unit in a structured way, which allows them to then go and flourish. I've always coached and worked with players, and with this group here what I am saying to them is, 'You've got the ability, allow me to release your talent on the field'. And that's what they're doing."