The Preston keeper saved everything the Liverpool skipper threw at him and then revealed: "It was a privilege to be on the same field."

Lonergan kept out half a dozen efforts from Gerrard – one an acrobatic fingertip stop which earned a respectful nod from the England star himself.

He also frustrated a wasteful Robbie Keane on a night when North End gave the Premier League leaders a few frights of their own.

In the end class told. But Lonergan and his team-mates were able to walk away with the heads held high after pushing English football's top side all the way.

"To be honest I thought two-nil probably flattered them a little bit," said Lonergan, who needed a painkilling injection in his thigh to play.

"One-nil would have been about right – that second one was a bit harsh on us.

"I am proud of the way we stood up to a team with so many great players, especially in the second half.

"In the first half, we couldn't believe just how good they were.

"We had seen them against Newcastle last weekend and they were awesome
that day.

"But face-to-face, the quality they have got is even more frightening.

"We managed to keep them to just the one goal by half-time and the gaffer said to keep our shape and we would do all right. And we did."

Preston pushed Liverpool back in the second half and even had the ball in the net after 64 minutes.

But referee Martin Atkinson chalked off Sean St Ledger's header because Jon Parkin was wrestling on the ground with Jamie Carragher in the
goalmouth.

Throwing bodies forward late on in a bid to snatch a replay at Anfield cost North End a second goal, with Gerrard racing clear to gift Fernando Torres a simple tap in.

But Irvine's team were still given an appreciative ovation at the end as they claimed some big name shirts as souvenirs – Paul McKenna getting Gerrard's and Sean St Ledger bagging Torres'.

Lonergan said: "I can't speak highly enough about Liverpool, they are unbelievable.

"I feel privileged to play on the same pitch as Stevie Gerrard and Robbie Keane.

"I know Keane missed some chances. But their movement is just outstanding.

"That is the thing we can learn from. We can also learn a lot from how good, how fit, how fast and how strong you have got to be to play in the Premier League.

"In the first half I was thinking, 'I don't know if I'm cut out for this Premier League business'.

"But we were better second half and we gave a decent account of ourselves.

"I only made one or two saves really, but I thought they were good saves.

"I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have liked to be beaten by four or five – that wouldn't have been nice.

"The save from the Gerrard shot which was going into the top corner was a good one. I was happy with that one, especially being against a player who in my mind is the best in the world.

"I'm not totally over the moon because we got beaten. But at the end of the day it could have been worse, much worse.

"That second goal was when we were pushing everyone forward and we were down to just one defender – and it was probably a foul on him anyway."

Liverpool rolled out their big guns to face Preston after coming unstuck in the FA Cup with a weakened team against Barnsley last season.

Rafa Benitez granted skipper Gerrard's wish and put him in the starting line-up despite the traumatic week he had gone through off the field.

PNE fans taunted the 28-year-old, although the chants were never going to have a significant effect on a player assistant manager Sammy Lee described later as 'a terrific professional'.

Full report in Monday's Lancashire Evening Post