Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool will have to dig deep as they aim to resurrect their championship challenge.
The 2-0 loss at Chelsea on Sunday was already a third defeat of the Premier League season for Rafael Benitez’s side, compared to two during the entire previous campaign.
It has left Liverpool six points adrift of the Londoners and outside the Champions League qualification places, and came just days after the dismal 2-0 reverse at Fiorentina.
And while Gerrard has warned their title rivals the Anfield outfit have plenty of room for improvement, he accepts Liverpool must gain the momentum of another winning run quickly.
“There is so much more to come from us and a hell of a lot of football still to play between now and May, and we’re up for the challenges that lie ahead,” said the skipper.
“It will come down to who wants it the most and who is prepared to dig deepest.
"When the manager demands a reaction from us he gets it, and that’s going to come in the games between now and the next Champions League match too.
“Momentum is vitally important in football. When you start to win consistently and go onto the pitch expecting to, it all becomes easier.”
Gerrard is six games short of reaching a landmark 500 appearances for Liverpool, but believes that, thanks for the constant badgering of Anfield manager Benitez, he can still become a better player.
“You cannot ever think that you can’t improve,” said the 29-year-old. “No-one at Liverpool will ever be allowed to think that way because it’s not the way the manager operates.
“You might have played well – a defender keeping a clean sheet, a midfielder with a couple of assists or a striker with a hat-trick – but the manager will always find room for improvement.
“There’s no relaxing under Rafa because he sets his standards so high. That’s the Liverpool way and talking to players from previous eras, that’s the same message they used to get to. You can always do better – collectively and as individuals. If you think you’re on top of your game you can still improve. That’s what we get drummed into us every single day and it really does help.”
The 2-0 loss at Chelsea on Sunday was already a third defeat of the Premier League season for Rafael Benitez’s side, compared to two during the entire previous campaign.
It has left Liverpool six points adrift of the Londoners and outside the Champions League qualification places, and came just days after the dismal 2-0 reverse at Fiorentina.
And while Gerrard has warned their title rivals the Anfield outfit have plenty of room for improvement, he accepts Liverpool must gain the momentum of another winning run quickly.
“There is so much more to come from us and a hell of a lot of football still to play between now and May, and we’re up for the challenges that lie ahead,” said the skipper.
“It will come down to who wants it the most and who is prepared to dig deepest.
"When the manager demands a reaction from us he gets it, and that’s going to come in the games between now and the next Champions League match too.
“Momentum is vitally important in football. When you start to win consistently and go onto the pitch expecting to, it all becomes easier.”
Gerrard is six games short of reaching a landmark 500 appearances for Liverpool, but believes that, thanks for the constant badgering of Anfield manager Benitez, he can still become a better player.
“You cannot ever think that you can’t improve,” said the 29-year-old. “No-one at Liverpool will ever be allowed to think that way because it’s not the way the manager operates.
“You might have played well – a defender keeping a clean sheet, a midfielder with a couple of assists or a striker with a hat-trick – but the manager will always find room for improvement.
“There’s no relaxing under Rafa because he sets his standards so high. That’s the Liverpool way and talking to players from previous eras, that’s the same message they used to get to. You can always do better – collectively and as individuals. If you think you’re on top of your game you can still improve. That’s what we get drummed into us every single day and it really does help.”
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