THE REDS 2-0 THE BORO

The Gunners took third spot by beating Manchester City 24 hours earlier, but Gerrard struck with two goals in five minutes during the second half of Wednesday night's match at Anfield.

The England midfielder took his tally for the season to 11 goals, netting from 25 yards before converting a penalty.

It means a win over Wigan at Anfield on Saturday will make sure of Champions League football next season.

Boss Rafael Benitez wanted things tied up nicely ahead of the first leg of the European double-header with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell watched this routine Reds success and will be aware the Anfield men were playing way below par.

But it was enough to snuff out a very ordinary Middlesbrough side, who are grateful to some decent early-season performances for keeping them out of a relegation dogfight.

Liverpool rested Steve Finnan and Xabi Alonso from the side who produced a poor performance which resulted in a goalless draw at Manchester City on Saturday, while Dirk Kuyt was relegated to the bench.

Boss Rafael Benitez switched Alvaro Arbeloa from left to right-back and brought in Mohamed Sissoko, Boudewijn Zenden and Peter Crouch, leaving Gerrard again as the support striker.

Boro brought Andrew Davies, Lee Cattermole, Emanuel Pogatetz and James Morrison into the side that lost at Aston Villa last time out.

Much of the opening period was as bad as Liverpool's indifferent display at Eastlands - one wayward drive from Aiyegbeni Yakubu was all either side could muster early on.

But at least Jermaine Pennant was looking lively and he produced a succession of crosses which needed the best attention of Boro's back-line.

It took a solid block from Jonathan Woodgate to stop Crouch firing home from another Pennant cross which reached him on the far post.

Pennant continued to look the one player capable of opening up Boro's defence, and a 28th-minute run and cross on the right resulted in a shot sidefooted just wide by Sissoko.

Arbeloa and Pennant then combined to produce space for Gerrard to fire in a 20-yard effort just wide of Mark Schwarzer's right-hand post.

Liverpool were having the bulk of possession but their pressure was not quick enough to unsettle Boro's rearguard.

Boro barely ventured out of their own half for long spells, but they were almost presented with a gift in the 40th minute when Jamie Carragher advanced forward but slipped over in the act of passing.

The blunder allowed Fabio Rochemback to surge free into the Liverpool half - only to fire wide from the edge of the box.

Sissoko then burst into Boro's half and played the ball to Pennant - but hopelessly mishit the return ball well wide from 18 yards. It summed up the first period.

Things started to look brighter for Liverpool five minutes into the second half when Javier Mascherano saw his header crack against the bar following Zenden's corner.

Then Sissoko, who had struggled during the first half and looked to be carrying an injury, was replaced by Kuyt in the 51st minute.

Liverpool should have scored five minutes later when Gerrard's long pass sent John Arne Riise away down the left.

When the Norwegian's cross arrived in the box Kuyt's shot was blocked and the ball was laid back for Zenden to fire over from six yards.

The Reds made the breakthrough in the 58th minute when Zenden's neat pass dropped into Gerrard's path 25 yards out - and the captain crashed the ball low past Schwarzer.

Davies, booked for diving a minute after Liverpool's goal, then conceded a penalty in the 64th minute when he pushed Crouch as the big striker was preparing to head a Pennant cross.

Gerrard crashed home the spot-kick and the points were safe.

But the England man was not finished - still embarking on surging runs looking for his hat-trick.

Riise saw a 25-yard effort skim past a post, before Gerrard was denied the chance of a third goal with three minutes left when he was replaced by Mark Gonzalez.