Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish paid tribute to both sets of players after victory over Manchester United.
The Reds' 3-1 win over their arch-rivals at Anfield dealt a blow to the Old Trafford club's bid for a record-breaking 19th championship, a figure which would take them past the Merseysiders' tally.
"I thought both sets of players were fantastic credit and made it an enjoyable spectacle for everyone," was his take on the game.
And despite the win the Liverpool manager accepts there is plenty of work still to do.
"The closer you get to the top the more difficult it is to close the gap," he said.
"Moving from 20th to sixth is not as big a problem as moving from two to one so the higher you go the more difficult the step up is.
"United are a great benchmark but our season is not finished.
"We got our reward for the victory in three points in the league but we just want to keep going and get as many as we possibly can.
"The owners (Americans Fenway Sports Group) are determined to move the club forward within reason, whatever that is going to be they will do their best to provide it.
"But the players who played there did not do themselves any harm in terms of being part of the club going forward."
