ROY HODGSON admitted Liverpool owed a “big debt of gratitude” to Steven Gerrard after the skipper’s remarkable hat-trick moved his team to the brink of qualification to the Europa League knockout stages.

Gerrard emerged as a half-time substitute to net a 14-minute treble and earn Liverpool a 3-1 win over Napoli at Anfield having trailed until the 75th minute to Ezequiel Lavezzi’s 28th-minute opener.

It ensured owner John W Henry witnessed victory on his first home game since New England Sports Ventures assumed control of the club for £300million last month.

Damien Comolli, Liverpool’s new director of football strategy, was also in the directors’ box to see Gerrard’s fourth hat-trick of a glittering Anfield career.

And Hodgson said: “It was an outstanding hat-trick. In the second half Steven’s entry on to the field was a catalyst.

“It was a real leader’s performance. It galvanised the crowd and the team and I thought the way he scored the first goal epitomises the energy and spirit the team showed in the second half.

“I’m delighted we had the rewards for it. We owe a big debt of gratitude to him but he’d be the first to join me and say it was a good team performance in the second half. We deserved to win the game.”

Gerrard’s first goal, which came after beating Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis to an underhit Andrea Dossena backpass, was pinpointed as the turning point by Hodgson.