Liverpool FC legend Ian Rush: "Players cannot use off-field issues as excuse for performances"

FORMER Liverpool striker Ian Rush insists the current players cannot use the club's off-field issues as an excuse for their poor performances this season.New England Sports Ventures (NESV) this week agreed a £300million deal to buy the Reds, although this is being challenged by Tom Hicks and George Gillett and will be the subject of a High Court hearing next week.The sale of the club has been ongoing since April but issues surrounding Hicks and Gillett's ownership have been dragging on much longer than that.Liverpool's start to the season is their worst since 1953-54 - when they were relegated - and they are 18th in the Barclays Premier League with just six points. However, Rush said it was too easy for the players to hide behind the ongoing uncertainty about the club's future.'It is easy to use that as an excuse but when I played we just got on with the game,' Rush said.'It is easy to criticise when you are not doing well. You can easily blame everyone but we have just got to get behind everyone.'We are all in it together, the owners the management, the players and the supporters.

Source: Liverpool_Echo