Liverpool's midfield can now handle the absence of captain Steven Gerrard, insists Xabi Alonso.

Gerrard is missing with a broken toe and Xabi told liverpoolfc.tv: "Scoring goals is part of the job, but you have to know who you are playing with. Against Derby I was playing with Javier Mascherano. When Stevie is playing I know I will probably not get to the box as many times as I did on Saturday.

"But we have different options all the time now. Whoever is playing is playing well. Momo is doing well, Javier is playing well, so was Stevie before the broken toe.

"Whoever is playing is performing well and that is good for the manager and the team. Everyone has to be ready because if not you will go on the bench or out of the side.

"The pressure was always there to perform well because you are playing for Liverpool and you have to win. I thought we played very well and it's always nice to score six goals. I was happy to score two."