ENGLAND - Liverpool are close to a first league title since 1990, but Steven Gerrard's tears after Sunday's win over Manchester City were a mix of joy and sadness. The 3-2 triumph came close to the anniversary of one of English football's darkest days.

Yesterday marked 25 years since the Hillsborough disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush at an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest on April 15 1989.

Prior to Sunday's kick-off, supporters at The Kop End of Anfield spelled out a message reading "96 25 years", with the emotion of the occasion adding to the intense atmosphere witnessed for the top-of-the-table clash.

The disaster has left a deep scar on the club and the city of Liverpool, while fresh inquests into the fatalities are being held after the original verdict of accidental death was thrown out by the high court in 2012.

The process has been adjourned for a week because of the anniversary.

Liverpool captain Gerrard, 33, has never won a league title in his 17 years at the club but following Sunday's victory, the memory of the 96 fans who did not return home, including his 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley, were at the forefront of his mind.

"The reason I was so emotional was because of when this game fell," he told the British media following the win which moved leaders Liverpool to 77 points, two ahead of Chelsea with four matches remaining, and seven ahead of City, who have two games in hand.

"It was because this week is always about more than football for everyone associated with Liverpool."