Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has silenced his critics

Gerrard scored and played a pivotal role as the Reds thrashed Everton 4-0 on Tuesday night at Anfield.

The Liverpool skipper has been deployed in a holding midfield role by Rodgers recently rather than the box-to-box part he has spent his career performing in.

The Reds boss recently likened Gerrard to Andrea Pirlo and the England international showed the passing class of the Juventus legend on Tuesday.

He is set to resume that role against West Brom tomorrow and Rodgers expects him to further silence those who did not believe he had the ability to match the world’s best at 33.

Rodgers said: “If anyone ever questioned whether Steven Gerrard can play as a controlling midfielder then he put on one of the best performances I’ve seen for a long, long time.

“I thought he was sensational in that role - opening up the game from behind, his exhibition in blocking, when he marked space, when he marked a man.

“He controlled the game and it was wonderful.”

Jordan Henderson has taken over Gerrard’s role higher up the pitch and the ever-improving midfielder continues to impress.But Rodgers wants to see more goals from the former Sunderland man to ensure there is a significant contribution from midfield with Gerrard further back.

He added: “I still think Jordan has bits to improve, he needs to get more goals.

“He understands that, we speak about that, there is no pressure on him, as he makes contributions in other areas.

“The areas that we want to improve his game is to get more goals, we need more from that area of the field.

“Steven Gerrard has done it consistently in his career but he’s in a different part of his career now and one that will see him in that role further back so that means that others have to contribute.

“I think it is a great credit to Jordan in how he has taken on the role.

“His composure and his quality is great to see and I think there is a lot of individual improvement to come.”

Rodgers was also given a boost by the news that Joe Allen has recovered from a hamstring injury.

The midfielder is expected to be on the bench for the trip to the Hawthorns.