While Liverpool supporters were thankful for the latest in a line of mesmerising performances by Raheem Sterling on Sunday, the young forward himself was directing his gratitude inwards.

The 19-year-old was a hurricane of pace, incision, energy and end product throughout the Reds' 4-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur on home soil - a result which sent the hosts top of the standings.

From the moment that the referee started proceedings, Brendan Rodgers' side were on a collective mission to record an eighth successive win, terrorising the Londoners into submission at Anfield.

Sterling, who returned to the line-up after being named among the substitutes in the clashes with Cardiff City and Sunderland, was seemingly at the centre of everything as Spurs were dismantled.

The scoreline joins previous mammoth triumphs of this season; a 5-0 drubbing of the same opponents at White Hart Lane, L4 thrashings against Everton and Arsenal, and an Old Trafford rout.

Asked for the key to a string of displays that supporters will never forget, the England international told Liverpoolfc.com: "Our football and the way we have been playing.

"The most important thing is the way we're working for each other. We're not just running headlessly, we're working as a unit and really perfecting that.

"We're putting teams on the back foot and then pressing really hard to counter-attack them. The boys are working really hard, day in and day out in training - you can see it paying off on the pitch.

"With Luis and Dan scoring the goals up front, there's a really good mixture in the team. The appetite of the players and the attitude as well; we're really working for each other and we know the dream at the end of it.

"It's a credit to the boys today; they really worked hard for each other. Everyone was pressing and working their socks off. I'm just really grateful to have been part of that team, because it's a credit to the lads - they were great."

Watch the video here »

Sterling was restored to Rodgers' selection following two fixtures on the bench, with the brief of supplementing Liverpool's attack against Spurs, and fully rewarded the faith of his manager.

The maturing No.31 is willing to undertake any instruction from the Northern Irishman, pledging that the team's success is of paramount importance.

He added: "It's really good; as long as I'm contributing to the team and helping the team, I'm really happy; if that's being on the bench or playing, as long as I'm contributing.

"It's a great team performance and I'm really happy to be in this team that's doing really well."

Beneficial results in Saturday's Barclays Premier League games meant that both players and supporters knew before kick-off that three points would send the Reds to the summit.

If the side felt any pressure, there was no evidence whatsoever; not least with the comfort and patience exhibited in controlling possession and playing out from deep positions in defence.

"We dealt with the pressure really well," said Sterling. "We played some really good football out from the back. To know that we could go top of the league, we dealt with it really well.

"To get the win was great, credit to the boys - they were magnificent during the whole week in training. It has shown on the pitch; credit to the whole team and the manager."

[OTPA_WIDGET_CONTENT]

Liverpool now lead Chelsea by two points at the top of the Premier League, with Manchester City trailing by four points but with a brace of matches in hand before the campaign ends in May.

Mathematically, the Reds have their destiny in their own hands. But Sterling echoed the words of Rodgers by insisting that the modus operandi has to simply be taking one encounter at a time.

The wide-man concluded: "It's a close one. We'll just be taking the games as they come, step by step. The boys have great belief and togetherness in the squad.

"Hopefully, at the end of the season, we'll be right up there and proud of our season. So far, we have been great."