Premier League: Liverpool v Everton – in pictures

There have been 215 Merseyside derbies over the years, with Liverpool winning 84 of them compared with Everton's tally of 66. Given this chap's dedication it's a safe bet that he has been to a fair few of them Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Everton's Steven Pienaar is causing Liverpool quite a few problems down the left in the early stages of the game. Just 10 minutes in he gets in a good position 16 yards out but blazes the ball over the bar Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Liverpool are also causing Everton headaches thanks to the speed of their passing and the fluency of their movement. Here Andy Carroll rises above the Everton defence but his header comes to nothing Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

The big man's strike partner, Luis Suárez, is also causing problems and radiates danger every time he gets the ball Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Just after the half-hour mark Liverpool take the lead courtesy of an immaculate finish from their captain. Tim Howard parried a shot from the overlapping Martin Kelly, who challenged Sylvain Distin for the rebound, which broke to Steven Gerrard on the right-hand edge of the box. Rather than blast the ball, he guides a subtle left-footed lob over Howard and into the net … Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

… let's take a closer look at that Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Gerrard, who is making his 400th Premier League appearance, seems pleased … Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

… it's the sixth time that he's scored in a Merseyside derby and Kenny Dalglish will be pleased to learn that his captain has never been on the losing side after scoring against the Toffees Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The Everton manager David Moyes urges his player to get stuck in … Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

... but his Liverpool counterpart doesn't like the look of the outcome Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Kelly goes flying as he challenges Pienaar Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Just six minutes into the second half, Gerrard gets his, and Liverpool's, second goal of the game. Jordan Henderson won possession in midfield then poked a smart pass through to Suárez, who sidesteps past Distin but the ball gets slightly away from him, so Gerrard comes surging in to take the shot himself – and smash it into the net from eight yards Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

José Reina snuffs out an Everton attack with the aid of a hefty punch clear Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Suárez agonises after he puts his shot wide of Howard but also wide of the Everton goal Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Everton are just shading Liverpool on the possession front; here Leighton Baines keeps the ball away from Dirk Kuyt, but they are unable to convert that possession into shots on target, or off target for that matter Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Deep in stoppage-time Gerrard gets his hat-trick to give Liverpool an emphatic 3-0 victory, their first at Anfield in 2012. The move that led to the goal was started and finished by Gerrard as he picked up the ball before going on a marauding run towards the Everton area. He slipped the ball to Suárez on the left of the box who wrong-footed the defender and knocked the ball back to the waiting Gerrard, who slams the ball home from 12 yards. Almost all of the Liverpool team join in the celebrations Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

There are contrasting emotions on the faces of Jack Rodwell and his Everton team-mates Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

The final whistle goes and the hat-trick hero makes sure he bagsies the match ball. It's only his second Premier League hat-trick and he becomes the first Liverpool player to score a hat-trick against Everton at Anfield since Fred Howe in Liverpool's 6-0 win on 7th September 1935. Dalglish will be more impressed by the fact that his side are now only two points off sixth-place Newcastle with 10 games to go. He'll also be relieved that the win will dissipate some of pressure that he's been under Photograph: Peter Powell/EPA