( CNN ) -- The writing was on the wall for Liverpool . Some 25 years after the stadium disaster that cost the lives of 96 supporters , the club is marching towards its first English title since the season immediately following that tragedy at Hillsborough . The team 's players could understandably be nervous about the prospect of ending such a long wait for Liverpool 's next championship -- its 19th overall and first since the advent of the Premier League . But , after title rival Chelsea stumbled on Saturday , Brendan Rodgers ' side showed no such anxiety in dispatching struggling Norwich 3-2 to move five points clear at the top of the table . And the manager said his charges had drawn inspiration from the speech by the leader of the Hillsborough Support Group , Margaret Aspinall , who spoke at Tuesday 's memorial service for the victims and survivors of the 1989 stadium crush . `` I used some words of Margaret Aspinall -- we put them up on the wall , '' the Northern Irishman told Liverpool 's website after Sunday 's away win , the team 's 11th in a row . `` She talked about stress and how it can prove difficult for you , but it can also offer you great determination to fight . `` Those were the words that we gave the players before the game today . This is a club that is one club at this moment in time , and we 're all fighting to achieve the ultimate goal . '' The victory sets the scene for next Sunday 's visit by Chelsea to Anfield , and puts more pressure on third-placed Manchester City to win against another team battling to avoid relegation -- West Brom -- on Monday . Liverpool and Chelsea have three games left , while 2012 champion City has five -- but is nine points off the lead . `` In the changing room before they go out , we just remind them to go and lose themselves , just focus on the ball and focus on the team , '' said Rodgers , whose team is now guaranteed a place in the European Champions League for the first time since 2010 . `` If you can do that , then we can be a real force . You saw all the characteristics of our team -- wonderful invention , creativity , arrogance on the ball , young players and senior players all playing in a structure that allows them to express themselves . `` And they had to show the courage to dig in and fight , away from home against a team that 's fighting for their life to stay in the division . It 's going to be a brilliant game next weekend . The supporters will be right up for it , as will the team . '' Liverpool took a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes through young winger Raheem Sterling , with a long-range effort , and top scorer Luis Suarez -- who became the first player to net 30 times in the league for the club since Ian Rush in 1987 . The Uruguay striker is now just one short of the Premier League record for a 38-game season , held by Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo . Norwich , just two points above the relegation zone , hit back through striker Gary Hooper following the halftime break but England World Cup hopeful Sterling restored Liverpool 's advantage just after an hour before Robert Snodgrass ' header set up a tense finish . `` He is the best young player in European football at the moment , '' Rodgers said of Sterling , who set up Suarez 's 12th goal in five games against Norwich . `` At 19 years of age you do n't see anyone better . His intelligence with the ball , his movement and he 's scoring goals . His first goal was a wonderful strike . He 's just shifted it , got his shot off ; to beat a goalkeeper of John Ruddy 's quality shows you the quality of the strike . `` His pass for Luis ' goal was like a top midfield player , so there 's an assist , and his position for the counter attack when he broke away and obviously gets a bit of luck on the deflection -- but his overall performance , he 's shown so much maturity . '' Arsenal 's chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the 15th successive season remain in the London club 's own hands after Sunday 's 3-0 win at 14th-placed Hull . Germany forward Lukas Podolski followed up his midweek double in the 3-1 victory at home to West Ham by scoring twice more following Aaron Ramsey 's opener -- the Wales midfielder 's ninth in the league this season and first since this month 's return from long-term injury . Everton closed to within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal by beating Manchester United 2-0 in Sunday 's later game -- billed as a clash between managers Roberto Martinez and David Moyes . It was a bitter blow for former Everton boss Moyes , who has had a miserable first season with defending champion United -- and now knows that next season the club will not be playing in the Champions League . A penalty from Leighton Baines and another goal from striker Kevin Mirallas before halftime left United 13 points behind Arsenal .
Liverpool five points clear in English Premier League after beating Norwich 3-2 on Sunday . Raheem Sterling scores twice and sets up Luis Suarez 's 30th league goal this season . Manager Brendan Rodgers says team drew inspiration from Hillsborough memorial . Arsenal and Everton , who both win , are battling for fourth place with three games to play .