Joe Allen described Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Manchester City as their biggest win of the season.
Brendan Rodgers' team went up to fifth, their highest position for almost five months, after their triumph at Anfield on Sunday.
And although they have also beaten Tottenham and Southampton in recent weeks, midfielder Allen was in no doubt about its significance.
"It's probably our biggest win of the season in terms of the timing of it," he said.
Liverpool went out of Europe to Besiktas less than three days earlier and only got back to England in the early hours of Friday morning.
And Allen added: "It was certainly the perfect response to Thursday night. With the disappointment of getting knocked out of the Europa League, which we wanted to do really well in, it going to extra-time and penalties, coupled with playing the champions, it was a great game to get three points in.
"We made a point of saying we didn't want it [the Besiktas game] to be an excuse. We wanted to make sure we threw everything at this game. Fair play to every single player who was involved, everyone had an impact."
Allen singled out match-winner Philippe Coutinho for praise after the Brazilian scored a spectacular decider.
"He's so good," the Welshman added. "The Brazilian team is obviously full of talent but he has to be really pushing for that. With his performances recently, he's taken things to the next level.
"He's so unpredictable and that's such a good skill to have. He has the ability to turn both ways, he's skilful and a player who comes into that versatile bracket."
Coutinho is enjoying arguably his best form as a Liverpool player and Allen said: "Those of us who work with him on a daily basis, we always knew he was going to kick on and reach this kind of level."
Allen was delighted with his own performance against City and said he is relishing the chance to play in the absence of the injured pair of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva.
"It was probably one of my best performances for Liverpool," he said. "If I can maintain my fitness and make sure it doesn't break up my season going forward then I'm confident I have the ability to put in those kind of performances consistently."