Skipper backing for Downing

Steven Gerrard has backed Stewart Downing to replicate his England form with Liverpool.

The winger produced a man-of-the-match performance at Wembley on Tuesday night as the national side defeated Sweden 1-0.

Downing, one of seven new arrivals to Anfield in the summer, has yet to produce the displays which prompted Liverpool to part with nearly £20m to secure his transfer from Aston Villa.

But Gerrard is convinced the 27-year-old and the Reds are a perfect match with Downing in an ideal position to realise his potential as one of the best wide men in the Premier League.

"I think the move was perfect for him at this point in his career," said Gerrard.

"He was the star at Middlesbrough and I think he moved up to Villa and proved he could be one of the best players in the league.

"I think at the age he's at it was perfect for him to sign for us. I felt he was a player we needed and that we were a club he needed to be at.

"He now has a platform here to prove over the next five or six years that he's one of the best players in the league. He can really nail down that left-side role and make it his own."

Kenny Dalglish's side have strengthened significantly in the past two transfer windows and Gerrard says it is time Liverpool began to deliver.

"The squad is looking stronger, probably the strongest we've had for a long time.

"Now it's all about delivering.

"The tools are all there, now we need to work hard, focus on each game and try to build on what we've shown over the last 20 or so games.

"I think you have to realise that this club is different to most others. The pressure is different because you have to win every game. The fans demand not just effort, but quality.

"With all due respect, at some other places you get away with performances that simply aren't good enough.

"At Liverpool your standards have got to be so high every single week. You have to perform every time.

"That's what I've had to do every year and that's what the new lads are coming to terms with."

Source: Liverpool Echo

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