Given the events of the previous week, this game represented a big test of character for the lads, and I'm pleased to say its one they, eventually, passed with relative ease.
It's a testament to the growing mental strength of the squad that we managed to overcome the tiredness, lack of key personnel, and disappointment from the city/Chelsea games in order to dig in and grind out a win - a scenario from which we have often come unstuck in recent years, especially against set piece cloggers, who set up to do nothing more than defending and the odd bit of casual GBH.
First 20 mins we looked jaded and the build up was far too laboured, giving Hull ample time to get set in what seemed like two banks of fifteen.
As soon as we opened them up for the first time, Sterlings 1v1 following Luis' deft angled header, we had them figured out (get it in to Luis' feet quickly and look to get the CB's turned with runners in behind) from that point onwards we never looked in any trouble.
The other main positive has to be our continued potency from set pieces. Free kicks are becoming more like penalties for Suarez, and after what seems like decades of bitching about how crap we are from corners etc, this season feels like all my Christmases have come at once - and that is 100% down to the fact that both Gerrard and Coutinho have greatly improved the consistency of their deliveries.
I feel our centre backs, Skrtel in particular, have always been pretty good at attacking the ball, but the delivery was often so piss poor that they had no chance.
Credit must go to both the players and the coaching staff, as the improvements have been marked, and we are reaping the rewards. That ball Coutinho put in for the Suarez disallowed goal was undefendable.
A couple of obvious negatives; yet again, the stand in players largely failed to really grasp their opportunities. Agger slotted back in seemlessly and had a very solid game but Cissokho and Aspas still look some way short of what's required.
Feel sorry for Cissokho. Injuries have clearly ravaged him to the point where he's a shell of the marauding powerhouse we saw at Porto. A real shame.
Aspas has more than a shade of the Garcia's about him. Hes horribly lightweight, and often wanders through games infuriating with one misplaced pass after another, however, every now and again he does something that reminds you that there's a player in there somewhere: that first time cushioned lay off for Hendo's chance was gorgeous.
Unfortunately for Iago, I don't think we're currently at liberty to give him the game time he needs in order to get up to speed with the pace of the premier league. We're about to embark on an almighty dust up for fourth place and we just can't afford any passengers.
The other main negative is that our attacking midfielders continue to be profligate in front of goal. Hendo, Sterling and Coutinho all had guilt edged chances to put the game out of sight by half time. The three of them simply have to improve their composure in front of goal, as we desperately need our midfield to start sharing the scoring burden.
As for Hull, what a horrible set of shithouse yard dogs. Fat head Jnr committed at least four yellow card offences and they might as well have painted "Meyler 7" on the side of a Combine Harvester and just driven it around the pitch flattening our players.
Let's hope this defeat signals the start of a monumental slide towards the relegation trap door for them, as I would rather get wanked off by Edward Scissorhands than go to that inbred shithole again next season.
Anyway, a hard fought and satisfying win. Onwards and upwards