Stevie Gerrard …

[dww]

One of the things that has struck me is that, when gerrard gets anxious, he seems to receive the ball at his feet with his back to the goal more often....thus making it rather easier for 3 to surround him and for them to get the ball off him. Yet he is best taking the ball on the run. Is he demanding the ball at the wrong time, not making the runs, or despairing of getting the ball if he makes the runs? I had thought it was mainly first two.

I think the problems are manifold but connected.

Generally we have been playing too deep - making playing balls for him to run onto harder. Alonso had the long range passing ability and vision to do it in less advantageous positions but few other players do. Maybe in time Aquilani will but at the minute we need to move the ball into better positions.

This leads to the second point - the movement of Gerrard and the other players behind Torres. Gerrard himself has looked less mobile and as a unit the three have been too narrow and again often too deep (a situation made worse by the fact that Benayoun and Kuyt lack pace). It's hard to advance the ball quickly for the likes of Macherano and Lucas and the back four without movement. If we had more width on either flank I think this would make the need for mobility from Gerrard less as it would give more space between opposition markers and gives more opportunities for other players like Kuyt of Benayoun to drift inside more productively.

We have a general problem with spacing of players at the minute - the three behind Torres bunch far too much - not even using the length of the pitch to find space. Without people running past or wide then any player will become predictable (and consequently easily marshalled) with their back to goal.

On the positive side I think returning fitness from Gerrard will mean he will become more mobile, same for Torres. More movement will make more space and hopefully Kuyt and Benayoun or whoever else plays left and right side of them will begin to regain some of last seasons form. Simple additions of width could also have a big impact - Riera returning to fitness and/or the signing of Rodriguez should make a marker difference.

Personally I would have pushed Gerrard right side while he was less than fully fit (moving Kuyt central) but that is another discussion entirely.

[Marky]

The Merseysiders' campaign can already be described as a failure following their exit from the Champions League at the group stages.

Rafael Benitez's team are also in a fierce battle to qualify for next season's European Cup as ahead of Sunday's crucial meeting with fourth-placed Tottenham they trail Spurs by four points.

A number of poor displays have led to suggestions that Benitez, who guided Liverpool to second in the Premier League last term, could be facing the sack, but captain Gerrard is in no doubt as to where the blame should lie.

"People have said our position is puzzling after last season's success. It's not puzzling at all. The table never lies, we haven't been good enough," he told Zoo magazine.

"We are in this position for a reason and it tells us that we really haven't been good enough, and the players have to take responsibility for that.

"All us Liverpool players have got to look at our league position, roll our sleeves up and get this football club back where it belongs, as far up the table as possible."

He added: "It has been hard to take this season, yes. We're all very disappointed with the way things have gone, especially after finishing second last campaign.

"There was a big belief we could go all the way. But now is not the time for hiding. We have to look at ourselves and put it right.

"We must aim for the top four, and that is something big to play for still. It's a priority now, as it always is at this club, for financial reasons and because all top players want to play in the Champions League, me included.

"I still think we can turn the corner. As captain, I've got to make sure that happens. It's fine looking at why it's happening, but we need to put it right on the pitch."

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_5832544,00.html

as the best player and captain, maybe he should be taking more of the blame as he is our talisman and been the worse player out there to many times recently

[Kinell]

For the position he plays in behind Torres I think criticism of him has been a little harsh. We lost Xabi who was instrumental into making Gerrard a success in that role and the use of wide players to bring Gerrard and Torres into the game more. It's quite obvious the need for him to drop deeper again and start getting back to what he does best and thats controlling games and playing the passes that the rest of the team seems unable to do.