Source: Team_Talk
Hodgson: Reds can't depend on Gerrard
iverpool boss Roy Hodgson has told his squad they cannot keep relying on the brilliance of captain Steven Gerrard to get them out of trouble.[LNB] The England midfielder has been one of the better players this season, even though he has not reached his usual high standards, but against Napoli last night he produced a 45-minute masterclass which underlined his undeniable quality.[LNB]Hodgson admitted the 30-year-old made it look easy in coming off the bench to dominate the second half with a performance capped by a hat-trick in the final 15 minutes.[LNB]It secured a 3-1 Europa League victory and a third win in succession for the first time in a campaign which has been a struggle from the start.[LNB]Premier League leaders Chelsea are next up at Anfield on Sunday and although Hodgson would welcome another star turn from Gerrard, he wants Liverpool to become more than a one-man team.[LNB]"I want every player to step up to the plate and do not want us to be totally dependent on Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres," he said.[LNB]"I want us to be dependent on the players who have been given the Liverpool shirt and given contracts at this big club.[LNB]"I've enjoyed one or two performances recently because I can identify more with the shape of the team and the work-rate and the effort and energy we are putting into games.[LNB]"If we sharpen up on the technical aspects of our game and we don't maybe miss quite so many clear-cut goal chances and we start to cross the ball a little bit better when we get into good positions I'll be happier still.[LNB]"But with the players and quality I have at the club I know that will come.[LNB]"These things are affected by confidence and we had such a bad start to the season it is going to take a while to pull ourselves out of the mire but at least we are trying hard to get out of it."[LNB]That said, the Reds boss said it would be wrong to ignore the efforts of Gerrard, who registered his fourth hat-trick for the club and took his European tally to 38 in 116 games.[LNB]"He made it look easy and it isn't," said the 63-year-old.[LNB]"It was a magnificent performance and I'm delighted for Liverpool Football Club we have a player of that quality.[LNB]"I've got to the stage in my life where goals like Steven's equalising goal (sliding in to beat goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis) give me even more pleasure than the 30-yard wonder strikes or ones which come after flowing moves.[LNB]"That is because they show there is so much energy, spirit, determination and fight and that is what we need.[LNB]"You know his quality but I thought, even without Steven, we would have seen a lively and aggressive second half.[LNB]"But of course whether that would have given us the three goals without him is another question."[LNB]Hodgson said it was right the midfielder should be able to bask in the praise as the player had been hurt particularly badly by their poor start this season.[LNB]"I was really pleased for the team and the club because I know Steven is the team and the club.[LNB]"Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher (born in Huyton and Bootle respectively) are the heart and soul of the club and they take defeats so badly.[LNB]"If there are three people who have suffered more than anyone from our bad start it is myself and those two because I don't want to be in that position and they certainly don't.[LNB]"I'm sure Steven will be delighted with himself and his contribution but he will also be quite pleased that suddenly there is light at the end of the tunnel.[LNB]"If we can keep this going through 28 league games, plus the FA Cup and the Europa League, there will be some good nights ahead."
