Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has jokingly referred to his side as the "chihuahua" of the title race in response to comments from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who dubbed his team a "little horse".

The Reds coach made the quip after watching his side move four points behind the table-topping Blues with a 3-2 victory over Fulham in midweek.

"I don't know about horses [but] we might be the chihuahua that runs in between the legs of the horses," he told reporters.

Rodgers also lavished praise on skipper Steve Gerrard in the wake of the game, after the midfielder fired home a last-ditch penalty to secure maximum points for his team.

"Steven is peerless in many aspects of football," he added. "He was brilliant against Arsenal, dictating the game, playmaking from behind and his pass for the first goal here.

"There's no greater person than Steven Gerrard to take a penalty right at the end to get the three points and he tucked it away really well."

Liverpool occupy fourth place in the Premier League table following the win at Fulham.