'That's up there as one of my best Merseyside derbies'
Lucas Leiva has hailed Liverpool's 4-0 win over Everton last night as 'one of the best' Merseyside derbies in his nine years with the club.
The Brazilian played 90 minutes as the Reds thrashed their rivals from across Stanley Park at Anfield to secure three Barclays Premier League points and the local bragging rights.
He even found himself far enough up the pitch in the second half to lay on a brilliant assist for Daniel Sturridge, who made it three shortly after Ramiro Funes Mori was sent off for the visitors.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the game, Lucas explained that the nature of the performance, and the fact it was Jürgen Klopp's first derby, made the victory all the more special for him.
He said: "It would be up there as one of the best. When they got the man [sent] off, we controlled the game and looked for more goals.
"At the end we dropped a little bit of intensity but we controlled the game; maybe not the first 10-15 minutes, when they had a few chances on the counter-attack, but after that I think we were better than them.
"I think it's a deserved win. It's special because it's the first derby under Jürgen, we are all happy and hopefully we can keep this good momentum going because we still have a lot to play [for] this season."
Watch Lucas share his post-match thoughts with LFCTV GO
With a two-legged Europa League semi-final tie against Villarreal fast approaching, many perhaps expected the Reds to take their foot off the gas in the Premier League.
However, Lucas knows he and his teammates cannot afford to put all their eggs in one basket when it comes to qualification for European football, even if victory against the Spaniards and then in the final would secure a place in the Champions League.
"We want to finish as high as possible in the Premier League, we know it's important," he added.
"We want to play European games and if we can get a spot through the Premier League it will be brilliant because the Europa League is too open and we have a chance but we don't know if we're going to win [the trophy].
"We just have to keep going and [tonight] shows the squad is in good shape, everyone is playing well and we are getting results so it's all positive.
"But we know football can change very quickly so we just need to keep very relaxed and focused."