Gerrard takes centre stage

BIRMINGHAM...0 LIVERPOOL...3: In football there is always a tendency to overdo the superlatives but on Saturday it was difficult to find enough of them. Gerard Houllier and Steve Bruce both struggled to find the words to do justice to Steven Gerrard's display when it was not exaggerating to describe Liverpool's captain as truly outstanding.

This may have been the season when Gerrard has overtaken Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane as the Premiership's most unassailable midfielder. He is the sort of player who makes you blow out your cheeks and his barnstorming performance here incorporated a splendid assist for Emile Heskey's goal, a typically forceful run to score Liverpool's third and, in between, a burst of power and acceleration that took him clear of Birmingham's entire defence until the professional foul that prematurely ended Kenny Cunningham's involvement.

Poor Cunningham. It was easy to sympathise with Birmingham's centre-half as Gerrard sped past him in the centre circle. Almost 30,000 were watching through the lattice of their fingers as Cunningham committed one of the season's more obvious red-card offences and Gerrard was so imperious at that stage, few would have bet against him scoring had he not been hacked down. Birmingham's fans might have booed Gerrard thereafter but, deep down, they will have understood they were witnessing maybe the most prodigious effort by any player in the Premiership all season.

Houllier described this win as Liverpool's most illuminating away performance of a difficult season, although there is bound to be an element of frustration, too. Why, for instance, has it taken so long to reach such exhilarating peaks? Heskey's accomplished display was a particular mystery - and it was tempting to wonder which manager he was trying to impress.

Bruce admitted he was trying to sign him and Houllier's willingness to sell was clear. Despite numerous opportunities, there was nothing close to a declaration from the manager that Heskey would remain at Anfield beyond the summer.

Doubtless, Houllier is more concerned with retaining Gerrard and, of course, Michael Owen. Despite passing up a possible hat-trick, Owen demonstrated why he is still such a feared opponent with the penetrative run and expertly placed finish to open the scoring.

Liverpool were so dominant it felt slightly absurd that Birmingham were eyeing the Champions League themselves seven weeks ago. Seven games without a win means Bruce's team could now finish as low as 12th.

As for Liverpool, they will be assured of fourth position if Newcastle fail to win at Southampton on Wednesday.