Steven Gerrard’s hat-trick ensured there was no happy 10th anniversary for Everton manager David Moyes as Liverpool eased to a comfortable victory in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Gerrard scored in the first half and then twice more after the break – including one in the final minute – to earn Liverpool their biggest win against Everton in nine years and ensure Moyes remains without an away derby win in his decade in charge at Goodison Park.

It was also the first hat-trick in a Merseyside derby since Ian Rush scored four in the Reds’ 5-0 win at Goodison Park in 1982, and the first at Anfield since Fred Howe achieved the feat for Liverpool in 1935.

The hosts never looked in any danger of a fourth successive Premier League defeat while Everton’s much-changed side looked totally incapable of extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches.

Gerrard produced contrasting finishes of delicate touch and power to prevent the visitors securing their first win at Anfield since 1999, a result that would have seen them leapfrog Kenny Dalglish’s side in the Premier League table.

He was the inspiration, in tandem with Luis Suarez, for a Liverpool performance that carried the vibrancy and rhythm that has been missing from so many of their displays since the turn of the year, despite their Carling Cup victory.

After a night of personal triumph, the Liverpool captain refused to accept he deserved to be compared to goalscoring legend Ian Rush, the last treble hero against Everton 30 years ago.

To others, Gerrard was merely confirming his status as Liverpool’s greatest ever player. “Scoring a hat-trick on my 400th league appearance does make it more special,” he said.

“Ian Rush was a big hero of mine. I looked up to him for a long time and used to watch a lot of the videos of him scoring, but let’s not be stupid. He scored over 300 goals and I’m not comparing myself to Ian Rush. He was a different breed.

“To beat Everton is special and three goals is extra special. But the credit goes to my team-mates, especially Luis Suárez who has put two on a plate for me. Everything we got from the game was what we wanted. A win, a clean sheet and three goals.”

“I’m not educated enough to add to what everyone has already said about Steven Gerrard,” said Dalglish. “He has been fantastic for the club and I could not extol his virtues enough to do him justice. Stevie will rightly get the headlines.”

A dejected Everton manager David Moyes also recognised the defining performance of the evening. “Steven Gerrard was a special player before tonight so it’s the same now,” he said Moyes. “I’ve always said he is one of the best players.”