Jordan Henderson admits Liverpool's derby delight cannot atone for their miserable start to the year - but has urged Jurgen Klopp's side to take the momentum into their crunch clash at Newcastle United.
Goals either side of half-time from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo earned the Reds a 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield on Monday evening to ensure they avoided the longest wait for a league victory in a calendar year since they were relegated from the top flight in 1954.
Liverpool had nine days to reflect on their poor 3-0 reverse at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers in their previous match.
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And Henderson, who was recalled to the starting line-up for the first time in five games, believes the performance was a welcome forward step.
"I thought the overall performance was top from start to finish," he said. "Everyone was at it, we knew it was a big game for us.
"We delivered. It doesn't make up for the last few weeks in terms of our performances but it's certainly a step in the right direction. It was more like us.
"It was a big week for us internally. We knew after the last few weeks and especially the last game, we had a bit of time after the last game with this being a Monday night. We had nine days, training has been very good this week and we took that into the game, and that's the most pleasing thing."
Liverpool are nine points adrift - albeit with a game in hand - of fourth-placed Newcastle, who they visit on Saturday evening.
And asked if the win over Everton could be a catalyst for the campaign, Henderson said to LFC TV: "I hope so, but only us can make that happen. We get a good feeling from this win, definitely, but the next game is a big test at Newcastle.
"They are flying this season and are unbeaten in a long time. It's a really, really tough place to go and play but if we can perform like we did against Everton and more than you never know what can happen. We need to be ready like we were against Everton and if we do that on Saturday then we have a chance."
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