Gerrard's rallying cry

Steven Gerrard today admitted the Reds only have themselves to blame for their seventh placed position in the table - but insisted they will soon start moving in the right direction.

The Reds can close to within just one point of fourth placed Arsenal with victory over the Gunners this afternoon, and Gerrard believes the time has come to shake off their patchy early season form and begin the challenge of hauling themselves back into the Champions League placings.

"We haven't been good enough and consistent enough, so it's down to myself and the rest of the boys to take responsibility and put that right," he said.

"At the beginning of the season we had the intention of being in the title race from start to finish.

"Unfortunately we've had a bad start, but the idea now is to get back to full strength and start moving up the league. I'm confident we can do that. Being in seventh is difficult to take, especially after finishing second last season.

"That gave us the belief that we could launch a real challenge this season.

"But now is not a time to hide. We need to get out there and roll our sleeves up and get on with it. We are responsible for where we are in the league."

He added: "We need to try to get back into a top-four position as soon as we can, that is now the number one priority for everyone at the club.

"It's all right looking at why things are happening but we just need to put it right on the pitch.

"Because of the start to the season we've had, every game is now a massive game, a cup final if you like.

"Playing against Arsenal is very difficult. They are one of the best teams in Europe for passing the ball very quickly and moving it about, so we have to get about them, press them very high up and force them to make mistakes.

"If we stand off them and let them play their football, they will kill us.

"It would be nice if we can get Fernando in from the start and we can get about Arsenal because I'm sure they'll fear us as much as we fear them."

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