BRIEF: Gerrard hat-trick gives Liverpool win in Merseyside derby 

BRIEF: Gerrard hat-trick gives Liverpool win in Merseyside derby

LONDON, Mar 13, 2012 (Menafn - dpa - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Everton 3-0 in the Merseyside derby on Tuesday to keep alive their slim hopes of a place in the top four.

The victory ended a run of three successive defeats and lift seventh-placed Liverpool to within two points of Newcastle United in seventh.

With 10 games remaining they are 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

Gerrard curled a left-foot strike over a stranded Tim Howard to open the scoring on 33 minutes and made it 2-0 with a powerful strike early in the second half.

And the Liverpool captain then completed his hat-trick in injury time after unselfish play by Luis Suarez.

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