• Premier League

Win over City 'our biggest statement yet' - Gerrard

Steven Gerrard showed his emotions after the final whistle © PA Photos

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard reflected on the "longest 90 minutes I've ever played in" and claimed that his side's 3-2 win over Manchester City "was probably the biggest statement we've made so far" in the title race.

Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead against their title rivals with goals from Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel in the first half, but City fought back as David Silva scored then produced an own goal from Glen Johnson to equalise.

However, a mistake from Vincent Kompany was pounced upon by Philippe Coutinho to complete the victory and unleash an emotional outpouring at Anfield, which marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster before kick-off.

Rodgers: We're coping with the pressure

• Brendan Rodgers feels his Liverpool team deserve all the plaudits for their victory over Manchester City and insists his players are coping with the pressure of being involved in the Premier League title race.
• He said: "It was a remarkable performance. I thought we were incredible today. We showed so much spirit and quality. The expectation on this football club is a challenge every day. Our objective is to stay where we are.
• "We have been put under pressure in very big game but you can see from the quality of our football that we are coping with it.
• "It was a wonderful atmosphere, pitch-side it was incredible, so between us all - players, supporters and staff - it was a great victory for us.''
• However, Rodgers side-stepped the question about whether Liverpool were now favourites to land the title.
• "I said at the beginning of the game it was a significant game, and it may end up being a significant one,'' he said. "But we've got Norwich next week - they played well yesterday. We'll enjoy the win, recover well and concentrate on the next opponent.''

"Emotional. Emotional, but we need to keep calm," Gerrard told Sky Sports after the match.

"There's still four big games to come but that meant so much especially when they got back into the game and you feared the worst at that point, but I think we showed today that we want to go to the wire, we want to go all the way.

"Nothing's won yet, but that was probably the biggest statement we've made so far.

"That was the longest 90 minutes I've probably ever played in. I kept flashing back to how long the clock was taking in cup finals and big games I've played in before but it felt like the clock was going backwards at some points of that game."

Gerrard was keen to stress the focus it will take to complete the first title success for Liverpool since 1990, starting with next week's game against Norwich at Carrow Road. Victory in their remaining matches will ensure Liverpool are champions.

"That is such a big result for us; we've got four cup finals left," added Gerrard. "People said that [against Manchester City] was the biggest one but I disagree, I think the biggest one now is Norwich.

We're not out of it, says Pellegrini

• Defiant Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists that Sunday's 3-2 defeat against Liverpool does not mean the end of their Premier League title challenge.
• Read the full story here

"We'll let other people comment and have opinions on whose it is to lose and who's in pole position - I'm sure they'll put whoever they want in the driver's seat. Nothing's ours yet."

Asked what he had said to his team-mates in an emotional huddle on the pitch at the end of the game, Gerrard joked: "None of your business!

"I think you know what I said to the players in that huddle. I think the important thing now is not to get carried away with that result. We need to stay calm, focused and worry about Norwich. We've got all week to prepare for the game against Norwich. We've got a day off tomorrow and then we go for Norwich."

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