Steven Gerrard hopes his hat-trick in the defeat of Everton can provide a platform for better things

Following three Premier League defeats in a row, Liverpool returned to form in a 3-0 win at the expense of their neighbours, with the glory going to captain Gerrard. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard hopes his hat-trick in the defeat of Everton can provide a platform for better things. But he was keen to share the credit with his team-mates, particularly Luis Suarez, and stressed Liverpool must produce strong performances more regularly.

"But I have to give my team-mates a special mention, especially Luis Suarez who put two goals on a plate for me. Asked about linking up well with Suarez, Gerrard said: "I haven't played with him much, but when we do we seem to have an understanding. "With Andy (Carroll) as well, I think the three of us in the starting XI are always going to be a threat. Hopefully that can continue to get stronger and stronger." 

He said: "It's been frustrating, the inconsistency we've been showing in the league, very frustrating. "We played very well at Arsenal and got nothing, then we never turned up at Sunderland. We are going from one extreme to another at the moment. "We need to find a level of consistency where we go on a winning streak, rather than win one and lose one, because otherwise we find ourselves in a position in the league that we don't want."

Gerrard has been pained by recent results, which had seen Liverpool lose to Manchester United, Arsenal and Sunderland.