Dirk: No one was happy

Dirk Kuyt claims no one inside the dressing room was happy with their form in the first half of 2009-10 - but the Holland international insists confidence is now on the rise after six league matches unbeaten.

The Dutchman opened the scoring against Bolton Wanderers, before Emiliano Insua's 70^th minute shot deflected off Kevin Davies to secure a 2-0 victory for Rafael Benitez's side.

The result moved Liverpool into fifth in the table and Kuyt is delighted the Reds are returning to form as the race for a top four finish continues to intensify.

"It is getting better and better," he said. "We knew at the start of the season we had lots of quality in the team but things didn't happen the way we wanted them to but that is behind us now.

"Confidence is really important and it is something we didn't have a couple of months ago.

"But you can see as soon as the goals are coming the confidence is coming back as well."

Kuyt's strike against Bolton was his 49^th for Liverpool and took his tally to three goals in as many games after hitting a brace against Tottenham recently.

The 29-year-old is pleased with this return, but insists his good form is a consequence of the team's upturn in fortunes.

"For me the main thing is the team. As soon as the team is playing well my own performance will get better as well," he said.

"If you ask all the players if they were satisfied with the performances they gave in the first half of the season I don't think anyone would have been happy.

"If you look at the (Premier League) table and you have been kicked out of the Champions League you can't be happy.

"You have to work really hard to come back. I am very happy to score a couple of goals and be important for the team but I'm sure everyone will start to play better.

"The main thing is we all stick together and work hard and that is paying off now."