Gerrard: All new signings amazed by Liverpool crowd for Cup triumph

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard admits the Anfield crowd lifted them for last night's Carling Cup triumph over Manchester City.

Gerrard and co dispatched the league leaders with the help of a raucous Anfield crowd, who responded to the weekend's defeat to Bolton by recreating the atmosphere of a Champions League encounter.

"People sign for this club to play in front of atmospheres like that," Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv. "The lads are talking about it now, all the new signings.

"I'm sure the fans are going home very happy and already planning their trips to Wembley.

"We knew it, we knew if we could stay in this tie until the second leg that we'd have a huge advantage with our supporters. They were the key tonight.

"It was the kind of response we all wanted. The manager had a go at us and rightly so, and it was important that we showed the fans a massive reaction."