'Everyone must take responsibility'

The day after the night before and Liverpool's worst cup defeat in 51 years, it would have been easy for him to point the finger elsewhere.

After all, he has a long list of ready-made excuses to choose from. He could have blamed the ownership saga, Roy Hodgson's team selection, bad luck or even Rafa Benitez. But Steven Gerrard was in no mood to hide behind excuses.

He said: "We players have got to look at ourselves. It's easy to look for cheap excuses and point the finger."

Five points from five games and 16th position in the Premier League are not what anyone at Anfield envisaged at the start of the season and Gerrard claims it is up to the players to put things right.

He added: "We are responsible for the results. I don't think you will find anyone in the dressing room looking for cheap excuses. We understand the job in hand and we will all keep working to put things right.

"For me those players have got to take responsibility for the club not progressing. I think if you consider yourself a top player, or want to become a top player, the worst thing you can do when things are going wrong in football is hide.

"You've got to take responsibility, take the criticism, roll up your sleeves and move on. That's what I've tried to do throughout my career."

Gerrard, 30, was as hurt as any Kopite at witnessing Liverpool's shocking Carling Cup defeat to Northampton.

But he refuses to be downbeat about Liverpool's plight and insists he would not have stayed in the summer if he did not believe they could win trophies. "I'm a Liverpool fan through and through, all my family are," he said. "For me, there was a lot of speculation in the summer.

"I wanted first and foremost to focus on the World Cup and when that was over, I had time to think about my family and what I wanted for my future and that was to try and make Liverpool a successful team again.

"After the disappointing finish of seventh in the league last season, it was a long and frustrating summer. I want to fight and help this club to improve and become better and try and experience the nights we've had in the past.

"If I was sitting in the dressing room and I didn't have confidence in my team-mates and I didn't believe in them, that will be the day I've had enough.

"But I believe the quality is there and I'm confident that my team-mates around me are good enough to compete for the trophies that are left."

Gerrard has been at Anfield long enough to remember Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez's early days at Anfield and both needed time to settle in. He claims Hodgson just needs more time to make his mark, adding back-to-back league wins would change the mood on Merseyside.

"I wasn't stupid enough to think that a new manager would mean everything would click into place," he said.

"They are all must-win games at Liverpool, but even more so when you've got five points out of your first five games.

"At home against Sunderland is a must-win game. If we have 11 points after the next two games, then we'll be in a much healthier position."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.