No crisis at Anfield says bullish Gerrard

Steven Gerrard took some of the heat off under-fire Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez on Monday by reassuring worried fans over his side's recent faltering form and telling them: 'Trust me — there's no crisis.'

The Anfield skipper spoke out on Benitez's behalf after Liverpool had to rely on an injury-time equaliser from Fernando Torres against Tottenham on Sunday to avoid a second morale-sapping home defeat in four days.

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Criticism was still ringing in their ears from a lacklustre goalless draw with Birmingham and sorry Champions League showing against Marseille and would have intensified but for Torres' late leveller.

There were still misgivings over the way Liverpool have suddenly looked vulnerable at Anfield, but Gerrard said: "I'm asking the fans to trust me when I say there is no crisis here.

"We have fantastic players and a world-class manager, and we will get things right again. There's no doubt about that.

"It's true we haven't been ourselves of late. Results haven't been good, and the performances could have been better. But all the top teams go through a dip in form at some stage, and we just have to make sure we play our way through it.

"We are not performing to the standard we are capable of, but I can assure the fans that will change. We have got an international break now, and that will give Rafa the chance to look at things and work with the players who are staying behind.

"For those of us going away, we've got to get the jobs done with our countries, then come back ready for a massive match at Everton. If we can win the derby and turn in the right performance, things will be looking better again. That has to be the aim."

Steve Finnan also believes the lunchtime showdown at Goodison Park a week on Saturday could help Liverpool recapture the form that led to them being Premier League front-runners earlier in the season.

"It was a relief to rescue a point so late on and important that it kept us unbeaten in the league," the full back said. "We've got some big games coming up, starting with the derby, and it is up to us to get back to the form we were showing at the start of the season."

As Benitez analysed his side's recent failings, he was cheered by news that centre back Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso could be fit to return against Everton.