Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva insists the Reds are capable of coping in the absence of key men.
The Merseyside outfit has endured a disappointing 2009/10 campaign, with criticism regularly levelled in their direction.
Untimely injuries to talismanic duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have only served to add further weight to the jibes, with the opinion that Liverpool will struggle to cope without the duo.
Lucas, though, insists that Rafa Benitez's squad is about much more than two players and has backed the Reds to silence their critics over the coming weeks.
A hard-fought 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Tottenham on Wednesday has gone some way to backing up his claims, and the Brazilian feels the battling qualities on show against Spurs prove how united the players have become.
"Now it is time for other players to show we have quality," said Lucas.
"We have heard a lot that Liverpool are a two-player team and of course we will miss Stevie, Fernando, Yossi (Benayoun) and Glen (Johnson) because they are brilliant players.
"But we cannot have them so we have to play with our squad - and yesterday (against Spurs) we worked really hard."
The midweek win leaves Liverpool just a point adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham and Lucas is adamant the club can still save their season by securing UEFA Champions League qualification.
He added: "It is normal when you don't get results that you get criticism. The Reading defeat (last week) was a catastrophe because we wanted to stay in the FA Cup.
"To be honest I cannot stop it. I have to keep going. If I listened to the criticism I wouldn't play here anymore.
"I just have to keep going and work really hard. The critics will be less if we keep doing well.
"Our record in the last four games is 10 points so that is positive.
"We know this season has been not so good but we have to keep this momentum and attitude.
"February will be a massive month for us so hopefully we will keep the same attitude.
"We will be there for sure, fighting for the top four."
The Merseyside outfit has endured a disappointing 2009/10 campaign, with criticism regularly levelled in their direction.
Untimely injuries to talismanic duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have only served to add further weight to the jibes, with the opinion that Liverpool will struggle to cope without the duo.
Lucas, though, insists that Rafa Benitez's squad is about much more than two players and has backed the Reds to silence their critics over the coming weeks.
A hard-fought 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Tottenham on Wednesday has gone some way to backing up his claims, and the Brazilian feels the battling qualities on show against Spurs prove how united the players have become.
"Now it is time for other players to show we have quality," said Lucas.
"We have heard a lot that Liverpool are a two-player team and of course we will miss Stevie, Fernando, Yossi (Benayoun) and Glen (Johnson) because they are brilliant players.
"But we cannot have them so we have to play with our squad - and yesterday (against Spurs) we worked really hard."
The midweek win leaves Liverpool just a point adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham and Lucas is adamant the club can still save their season by securing UEFA Champions League qualification.
He added: "It is normal when you don't get results that you get criticism. The Reading defeat (last week) was a catastrophe because we wanted to stay in the FA Cup.
"To be honest I cannot stop it. I have to keep going. If I listened to the criticism I wouldn't play here anymore.
"I just have to keep going and work really hard. The critics will be less if we keep doing well.
"Our record in the last four games is 10 points so that is positive.
"We know this season has been not so good but we have to keep this momentum and attitude.
"February will be a massive month for us so hopefully we will keep the same attitude.
"We will be there for sure, fighting for the top four."
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