Rafa Benitez has called upon Steven Gerrard to rekindle his form of old and help salvage Liverpool's season.
The Reds skipper has admitted that his standards have dipped this term, along with many of those around him.
The midfielder has fallen short of his buccaneering best on too many occasions and results have suffered as a result.
Gerrard cannot be expected to carry the side all by himself, but he is needed to lead those around him.
Benitez sympathises with his skipper, acknowledging that the demands placed upon him are great, but insists the England international must improve if he is to provide the spark for a late charge into the Premier League's top four.
"I think more or less in terms of his position and his movement it is similar [to previous seasons]," said the Spaniard.
"The team has had some problems and some players are suffering because we are not giving them too many good balls or options.
"But Gerrard is an important player because he also has to create something for the rest of the team and he knows he has to improve.
"But the main thing for me - and we have had conversations with the team - is that everyone knows we have to improve.
"He is one of the players who is really focused and has a great determination to improve.
"That is the first thing; if you want to improve you have to believe you can do it and work hard trying to do it."
The Reds skipper has admitted that his standards have dipped this term, along with many of those around him.
The midfielder has fallen short of his buccaneering best on too many occasions and results have suffered as a result.
Gerrard cannot be expected to carry the side all by himself, but he is needed to lead those around him.
Benitez sympathises with his skipper, acknowledging that the demands placed upon him are great, but insists the England international must improve if he is to provide the spark for a late charge into the Premier League's top four.
"I think more or less in terms of his position and his movement it is similar [to previous seasons]," said the Spaniard.
"The team has had some problems and some players are suffering because we are not giving them too many good balls or options.
"But Gerrard is an important player because he also has to create something for the rest of the team and he knows he has to improve.
"But the main thing for me - and we have had conversations with the team - is that everyone knows we have to improve.
"He is one of the players who is really focused and has a great determination to improve.
"That is the first thing; if you want to improve you have to believe you can do it and work hard trying to do it."
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