Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the Reds’ last-gasp win at Aston Villa will mean nothing unless they can back it up next month.

The Anfield outfit are now four points off fourth-placed Tottenham as they bid to fulfil boss Rafa Benitez’s prophecy of a top-four Premier League finish with the Merseysiders looking to return to the Champions League next season.

Liverpool needed an injury-time winner from Fernando Torres (11/4 Premier League Top Goalscorer) to beat Villa 1-0 at Villa Park on Tuesday night – and so gain revenge for the defeat at Anfield at the start of the campaign – but the game’s only goal had as much to do with the home side’s sloppy defending as anything else.

Nevertheless, Gerrard was delighted to see the side fight until the very last minute.

He told Sky Sports: “That’s what football’s about. You’ve got to keep going until the end and when you’ve got guys like (Torres) there’s always a chance.

“When he’s on form he’s the best in the world.”

Gerrard added: “It’s important to build on this. I’m sure we’ll gain a lot of confidence from this and there’s no excuses now. We’ve got to win games.”

Spanish boss Rafa Benitez revealed post-match that Torres is carrying an ankle problem in addition to his long-standing groin trouble which could see the Spain star rested for the FA Cup third-round tie at Reading (Liverpool 11/2 FA Cup Outright Winners).

Right-back Glen Johnson was forced off at Villa Park with a knee injury and is also a doubt for the clash with the Royals who are struggling for form in the Championship.