Maxi: I'll never forget Kop ovation
Maxi Rodriguez has spoken of his great pride at netting his first hat-trick for Liverpool - and admitted that the reception he received from the Kop was one of his finest moments in football.
The Argentina international produced a masterclass in close-range finishing as the Reds romped to a 5-0 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.
The No.17 doubled his tally for the season to six courtesy of his deadly treble - and later revealed that it is the highlight of his Anfield stay so far.
"It's definitely my best moment in a Liverpool shirt," Maxi told Liverpoolfc.tv in the Anfield tunnel.
"I think it's more special because we scored a lot of goals, it was my first hat-trick for the club and also because I scored it at Anfield in front of our fans.
"I have to say that it was also a great moment when I was substituted in the last minute. The whole ground gave me a reception I will never forget and Kenny also said he was very happy with my performance, so I have to be delighted with what was a perfect day for me."
Click the image below to watch the best of Maxi's display v Birmingham
Maxi's exploits in front of goal may have earned him the headlines but he was keen to stress that his teammates deserve their share of the praise as they continue their pursuit of fifth-placed Tottenham.
He added: "It is definitely a great feeling to score a hat-trick but it is not just about me scoring the goals.
"The team played really well and that is the most important thing.
"Tottenham's draw means we have closed the gap to fifth place and we still have a chance of qualifying for Europe. We will keep fighting right until the end and hopefully we can finish the season in a positive way."