ACTIONS speak louder than words and the noise at Anfield was deafening.

Steven Gerrard had urged his team-mates to take responsibility for Liverpool’s alarming Premier League slump and the response was emphatic.

The skipper showed them the way and they followed as Kenny Dalglish’s side awoke from their post-Carling Cup final slumber in style. Beaming from ear to ear, Gerrard walked away from the 217th Merseyside derby with the matchball tucked away up his shirt for safekeeping. What a way to mark his 400th Premier League appearance.

‘Ten more years’ chanted the Kop. They were promoting an extended stay for David Moyes across Stanley Park but they may as well as have been demanding the continued presence of Gerrard in this Liverpool team.

This was another memorable chapter in a remarkable story. Gerrard did what he’s done so often over the past decade – provided the inspiration for a crucial victory. When the stakes are high, he always delivers. Not since Ian Rush famously scored four at Goodison in 1982 had anyone plundered a hat-trick in the derby.

And when Gerrard gloriously completed this rout in stoppage time he became the first Reds player since Fred Howe in 1935 to bag a treble against Everton at Anfield.

There was a lot more than seventh place in the Premier League up for grabs last night.

Having suffered three straight league defeats for the first time since 2003, Liverpool were in urgent need of a boost to disperse the circling vultures.

Everton, unbeaten in nine and eyeing a first win at Anfield for 13 years, sensed their chance, not only to leapfrog their rivals but give Moyes the perfect gift on the eye of his 10-year anniversary at Goodison.

But this just about summed up the past decade. When Everton had the neighbours in their sights Liverpool showed them a clean pair of heels.

A first home league win of 2012 was registered with consummate ease. It was the Reds’ biggest derby triumph at Anfield for 29 years.

This was a world away from the dismal display served up at the Stadium of Light three days earlier.

The sight of those Royal Blue shirts triggered an energy, appetite and a sense of purpose which had been so sadly lacking in the North East.

Liverpool dominated from the start, chasing down lost causes, hassling and harrying Everton into coughing up possession.

A pumped up Andy Carroll set the tone as he soared above Marouane Fellaini to win a header early on – it was a telling sign of the hosts’ greater hunger and desire.

With the Blues pinned back, Liverpool carved them apart inside seven minutes. Gerrard burst on to Luis Suarez’s neat pass and stung Tim Howard’s palms.

The rebound dropped kindly for Jordan Henderson but Jack Rodwell flung himself to make a block.

Jose Enrique was much improved compared to recent weeks and linked up expertly with Stewart Downing down the left.

Downing displayed a self-belief Anfield has rarely witnessed this season as he got at Tony Hibbert and exposed his defender’s lack of pace.

When the winger skipped past Hibbert and delivered into the box, Carroll couldn’t generate sufficient power on his header to seriously trouble Howard.

Carroll continued to impose himself and it was his flick on from Reina’s punt downfield which set Suarez free. The Uruguayan’s sweetly struck left-footer was beaten away by the keeper.

With Everton resorting to aimlessly lumping the ball long, there was little to concern Dalglish’s side. Henderson’s sloppy pass briefly put them on the back foot but Steven Pienaar blazed over from Leighton Baines’ pull back.

It was this fixture last season that kick-started Jay Spearing’s Liverpool career and once again he rewarded the manager’s faith for giving him a prominent role.

The pint-sized midfielder was a model of composure, while up front Suarez’s clever movement dragged Everton’s centre-backs into areas they didn’t want to be in.

Just when Liverpool’s intensity had dropped off and the Blues were showing some invention of their own, the goal arrived 11 minutes before half-time.

It was a classy counter-attack from inside their penalty box with Enrique, Downing, Henderson and Suarez combining to find Martin Kelly.

The young defender’s initial shot was parried by Howard who was up quickly to deny him from the follow-up.

However, the ball ran free to the edge of the box where Gerrard brilliantly dispatched a curling left-footer over the covering defenders and into the net.

Anfield erupted and Liverpool should have had breathing space before the interval.

After a sticky start when his wayward distribution was greeted with frustration from the fans, Henderson rapidly grew in confidence.

Twice before the interval the midfielder played incisive passes which should have brought greater reward.

First, Kelly was the beneficiary and fired narrowly wide of the far post and then Suarez was put clear only to be outmuscled by Sylvain Distin.

With Martin Skrtel maintaining his high standards and Jamie Carragher a defensive rock on his return to the side, the Blues’ threat was minimal. When the ineffective Denis Stracqualursi did find a yard of space in the box his header was easily held by Reina.

Any fears that the interval would dent the Reds’ momentum were swiftly dashed as six minutes into the second half they doubled the tally.

There was only one winner in Kelly’s duel with Pienaar and it was the youngster who turned defence into attack. Kelly robbed Pienaar and found Henderson who in turn released Suarez down the right. The striker cut inside, leaving Distin and Jagielka trailing, and Gerrard arrived on cue to hammer a shot past Howard.

Liverpool were rampant and Carroll should have soon added a third, but blazed wastefully wide after Suarez had wreaked more havoc. This was comfortably Suarez’s best display following his lengthy suspension and he should have capped a tireless night’s work with a goal.

However, after latching on to Carroll’s pass he went for the spectacular with the outside of his boot and got it all wrong.

Enrique made one timely clearance to keep out Rodwell’s cross-shot but in truth a comeback was never on the cards. Moyes may have picked a team with Sunday’s FA Cup tie in mind but they were outplayed and embarrassed.

The Reds were in cruise control and they finished with a flourish. Gerrard exchanged passes with Suarez and coolly fired into roof of the net.

It was a night for the red half of the city to cherish.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Enrique, Henderson (Kuyt 73), Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Carroll, Suarez.

Not used: Rodriguez, Coates, Adam, Doni, Shelvey, Flanagan.

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman (Drenthe 61), Rodwell, Fellaini, Pienaar, Anichebe (Jelavic 61), Stracqualursi (Osman 61).

Not used: Mucha, Heitinga, Cahill, Neville.

Bookings: Pienaar, Baines, Drenthe, Hibbert, Enrique.

REFEREE: Phil Dowd

ATTENDANCE: 44,921

GOALS: Gerrard 34, 51, 90.