Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes some of his players are trying too hard to impress him and win a first team place, and actually harming their chances.
Hodgson made 10 changes for last night's disappointing goalless Europa League draw at home to Utrecht, giving opportunities to Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulsen, Ryan Babel and Fabio Aurelio.
But the under-performing players were below par and Hodgson thinks they are putting too much pressure on themselves in what has been a frustrating season all round at Anfield so far.
"It is most frustrating for them because they want it so much," Hodgson told reporters.
"There is no lack of desire, commitment, effort and wanting to do well.
"We didn't look after the ball enough or produce the right pass and that frustrates players who have first-team potential because they know they are capable of doing it.
"I see these players every day in training and I know some of them will be disappointed they did not take their chance a little bit better but that won't affect me because they will get other chances.
"Sometimes in football you can want things too much.
"If you don't get a chance on a regular basis and one comes along sometimes your desire to take it can impact negatively on your performance and that might have been the case for one or two."
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