Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has rated the team's reaction to manager Rafael Benitez's tirade last week as 'superb'. The Reds went out on Monday night and hammered Portsmouth 4-1 in the league before turning a one-goal deficit into a 3-1 win on aggregate in the Europa League Round of 16 against Lille.

And the Reds captain was delighted with how the players were able to react from stinging criticism from their boss.

''He (Benitez) is the manager and he's allowed to criticise the team at the right time but I think the reaction over the last two games has been superb and the plan is to maintain it on Sunday against Man United," Gerrard told Five.

''It was vital this game didn't go to extra-time tonight.

''We know how difficult it (Sunday) is going to be. We'll enjoy tonight and we'll get a warm-down tomorrow and we'll look forward to Sunday.''