Gerrard eclipsed Ian Rush's club record of 14 goals in Europe's top competition with his first-half header in the awesomely efficient Champions League quarter-final first leg triumph in Eindhoven.

The 3-0 win in Holland last night leaves Liverpool on the brink of a semi-final clash with either Chelsea or Valencia next month.

Now Gerrard believes Liverpool's current form is down to the fact that the whole side are reaching their potential at just the right time.

And the 26-year-old concedes that his own performance level and power has been flooding back in recent weeks after his indifferent start to the campaign.

Gerrard explained: "Since Christmas I've been feeling everything coming back.

"I'm training better and hopefully peaking at the right time because there are so many big games around the corner.

"We're all getting those feelings again as we did two years ago when we went all the way to win the trophy in Istanbul, but we're also telling ourselves to slow down.

"There are still a lot of work to do before we can think about Athens and this season's final."

Liverpool managed a 0-0 draw in Eindhoven in their opening group match in September - but the measure of their improvement was underlined by the quality, efficiency and team-work of the defeat of PSV.

Gerrard continued: "Everyone can see there's a big difference to how we're playing now compared to when we last played in Eindhoven.

"We were more inconsistent as a team when we met them last time and had a lot of big players who were not on form.

"If you look at us now, all the big names are performing well, whether it's Jamie Carragher, 'Pepe' Reina or Xabi Alonso.

"It's the same for me. I was really frustrated at the beginning of the season because I was lacking energy in my game and felt lethargic, physically and mentally."

But although Liverpool's players know they are within touching distance of the semi-finals, and cannot help but think about a trip to Athens for the final on May 23, Gerrard has called for caution.

"He said: "We have done a great job and we know we have got one foot in the last four, but now is the time to be professional. If we progress it will get tougher.

"But I will not be thinking about the semi-final until the second leg is over next week.

"The Eindhoven game was just as tough as Barcelona when we won there in the last round. Before that game, everyone was doubting us.

"This time it was reversed and we were expected to win. That brings a different type of demand. It's pleasing to perform when the pressure is on."

Gerrard also brushes aside too much talk of his goalscoring record, some of which were goals from last season's qualifier against Welsh minnows TNS.

He said: "It's a bit embarrassing to have that record. Ian Rush is someone I watched as a kid and it's flattering to break one of his records, but what's more important is the result.

"Going further in this competition means more than any individual accolades.

"It may be something I will look back on in years to come when my career is over, but I do not think I'll be getting near any of his other records.

"It would be better to look back at winning two or three European Cups. You never know."

Peter Crouch, who scored his fourth goal in four days to seal victory in Holland, also insisted the side should not get too carried away by their win over an injury-hit Eindhoven.

He said: "We were confident we could get the right result but to do it by three goals probably surpassed what we expected.

"We felt capable of scoring goals and that was certainly the plan. Now we have given ourselves a tremendous platform to go further in the competition.

"Nobody is taking the second leg for granted, but we have a big lead and things look very good for the future."

The goal of the night went to John Arne Riise, with another of his long-range specials, beating Gomes from fully 30 yards.

But the Norwegian said: "I saw the goalkeeper was a little bit more to the right.

"The ball bounced perfectly and all I had to do was smash it. It was fantastic to score in a quarter-final like that."