Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool star Steven Gerrard admits: I'm not the force I used to be
Steven Gerrard delivered a frank appraisal yesterday of his ongoing quest to hit peak form, and conceded: 'I'm still not at the level I want to be.'[LNB]With a critical run of games looming for club and country, the Liverpool skipper's blunt admission will be a cause of concern for Rafa Benitez and England coach Fabio Capello.[LNB]Benitez tried to play down his key midfielder's apparent anxiety ahead of Sunday's home game with Sunderland, but a return of only nine goals so far this season suggests the fears may be well founded.[LNB] High standards: Gerrard admits he has been below par[LNB]It is Gerrard's lowest tally in three years, and, though he is eager to improve it over the remainder of the season to boost his confidence for this summer's World Cup, his mounting frustration was evident as he said: 'I think I could be doing better. If you look at my form through the season as a whole, I am not totally happy. I know I have not reached the level I would like to be at.[LNB]'It is not worrying me as I still have confidence that it can switch and turn at any given time to where I would want it to be.[LNB]'I have played well at times this season, but I have also come out of games where I have not been totally happy.[LNB]'I am my own biggest critic. I know myself when it is good and when it needs to be stepped up, and the challenge for me now in the remaining games is to step up and drive Liverpool into fourth, try to go all the way in the Europa League final and head for the World Cup in good shape.'[LNB]Benitez acknowledged Gerrard sets himself daunting standards but still backed him to finish the season with a flourish.[LNB]'I would like to see the best of Stevie in the next game and the one after that, and there were some positive signs in the way he played against Portsmouth and Lille last week,' he said.[LNB]'Injuries have been a problem for him this season, and he is not happy when he feels he has made a mistake.[LNB]'But his fitness is fine now, and I hope he is the best player on the pitch in our remaining games.[LNB] Second best: Gerrard's form is in stark contrast to England team-mate Rooney[LNB]'There is no reason why he shouldn't be, because we know hiscapabilities, and he is putting in a lot of hard work in every trainingsession.'[LNB]Sunday's game revives the memory of one of the mostbizarre goals in history, but Sunderland manager Steve Bruce believeshis side's fluke against Liverpool in September ruined their season.[LNB]DarrenBent's winner, courtesy of a bright red beach ball, which is now anexhibit in the National Football Museum in Preston, was followed bySunderland winning just one in 18 until they beat Bolton a fortnightago.[LNB]Bruce said: 'I think all of our luck was saved for thatgame. We lost player after player and decision after decision wentagainst us.[LNB]'The game will always be remembered for the beachball incident which is a shame because it took all the gloss of a goodperformance. The best side won hands down. It was not a fluke that webeat them. The fluke was the goal.'[LNB]Today is the first timeSunderland have faced Liverpool since striker Kenwyne Jones was linkedwith a January loan move to Anfield.[LNB]Bruce, who is consideringwhether to risk the Trinidad and Tobago striker, who has recovered froma groin strain, reiterated his plan to hold onto the forward.[LNB]He said: 'I never intended to sell Kenwyne. I want to build a squad here and you don't do that by letting your best players go.'[LNB] Gerrard crisis: Liverpool star admits poor form as World Cup creeps upTo Russia with Rafa's love! Benitez confirms he wants to offload Riera LIVERPOOL FC
