We can focus on Champions League after Everton win - Liverpool skipper Gerrard turns attention to Arsenal

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Fernando Torres' 28th goal of the season proved to be enough to settle the 207th clash between the Merseyside clubs.

The victory put five points between the fourth-placed Reds and their neighbours in fifth, and with six matches to go that cushion could be crucial in the race for Champions League qualification.

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But Liverpool also still have an interest in this season's competition and they face Arsenal on Wednesday in the first leg of the quarter-finals - the first of three matches in seven days as the pair also meet each other in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

Gerrard believes they can go into the tie not having to look over their shoulder in terms of their league position.

"For the time being the pressure is off because we have got the five-point gap, but we have a lot of hard games to come," he said.

"Although we are going to put all our focus on the Champions League, for the league game in between the two matches we still have to put in a big performance and try to keep the gap of five, if not improve it."

The England midfielder was pleased the team were able to quickly get the previous weekend's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United - which ended a seven-match winning run - out of their system.

"Last week was very disappointing - it was a difficult week swallowing that defeat at Old Trafford but it was all about bouncing back and trying to take a positive win into Wednesday," said the 27-year-old.

"The scoreline (at Old Trafford) was more emphatic then we deserved but we have got to forget about that and move on and try to consolidate this fourth position and try to go all the way to Moscow (the host city for the final).

"It was a good win. We were slightly disappointed we didn't make it more comfortable in the first half.

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Ready, aim, fire: Steven Gerrard hits the post with a volley against Everton

"We created numerous chances to kill the game off in the first half and we just missed putting a toe or a head on a few deliveries into the box and could have scored more, which would have given us more confidence.

"Everton put us under a little bit of pressure in the second half but I never once thought we were going to lose or give the lead away."

Gerrard also paid tribute to match-winner Torres, who scored his 21st league goal in 29 league matches.

The Spaniard latched on to Dirk Kuyt's pass to expertly fire past goalkeeper Tim Howard. "It was no shock to me," added Gerrard. "Give the guy chances and he'll put them away - simple as that."