James Milner starred and Daniel Sturridge scored his 50th goal for Liverpool as they eased to a 4-0 Merseyside derby win over 10-man Everton in the Premier League.
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Milner delivered the assists for Liverpool's first two goals in Wednesday's contest, which saw Everton's wait for a first win at Anfield since September 1999 extended.
First Milner supplied the cross for Divock Origi to open the scoring in the 43rd minute with his fifth goal in as many games in all competitions.
Milner was at the heart of things again as Mamadou Sakho made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, and the three points were all but sealed after Ramiro Funes Mori was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute for a dreadful challenge on Origi.
The Belgium forward had to be taken off on a stretcher but his replacement Sturridge scored a third just after the hour mark as he reached a half-century of goals in just 87 games.
More problems for the visitors came when John Stones limped off after Sturridge's goal and Philippe Coutinho netted a well-taken fourth in the 76th minute, as the Europa League semi-finalists cut the gap to fourth-placed Arsenal to six points.
The result, as well as the loss of Funes Mori and Stones, heaped more pressure on Everton manager Roberto Martinez ahead of Saturday's FA Cup last-four clash with Manchester United.
Matteo Darmian proved to be Manchester United's unlikely hero as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on Wednesday to close to within a point of the Premier League's top four.
The full-back's low cross was turned into the Palace net by Damien Delaney after just four minutes and he fired in a second for Louis van Gaal's side shortly after the break, as United recorded another straightforward home win to follow Saturday's victory over Aston Villa.
Palace made six changes to their starting line-up ahead of their FA Cup semi-final with Watford on Sunday, and it was stand-in goalkeeper Julian Speroni - making just his second appearance of the season - who kept United at bay for much of the game.
But fine saves to deny Anthony Martial, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard in particular proved in vain when Darmian smashed a half-volley off the right-hand post to deservedly double United's lead, and a comeback never looked likely.
United were far more threatening than they have been in many games at Old Trafford this season, but eased through the closing stages, with one eye undoubtedly on Saturday's trip to Wembley to face Everton.
Heurelho Gomes was beaten by two spot-kicks as FA Cup semi-finalists Watford suffered a 3-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham at Upton Park.
Gomes saved two penalties from West Brom's Saido Berahino on Saturday, but was unable to keep out Mark Noble's two efforts from 12 yards, which came after Andy Carroll's sixth goal in five league games to make it 15 top-flight home matches unbeaten for West Ham.
Quique Sanchez Flores' men face Crystal Palace at Wembley this weekend and the Spaniard made seven changes on Wednesday, with the hosts taking full advantage to keep alive their top-four hopes.
Carroll's 11th-minute volley set the tone, with Noble's first coming just before the break. The midfielder doubled his tally eight minutes into a second half that saw Sebastian Prodl score an excellent consolation goal, Troy Deeney miss a late penalty and Nordin Amrabat receive an injury-time red card.
The result helped to assuage some of the pain of West Ham's last outing on home soil, when their own FA Cup dream was ended by Manchester United, moving them four points shy of fourth-placed Arsenal.
It also snapped a run of five consecutive league draws for the hosts, who were held by leaders Leicester City last time out following the controversial award of a last-gasp penalty.
For Watford, finishing in the top half remains a realistic prospect, despite a run of just one win in eight league games.