Gerrard has harsh words for Reds defence
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard lambasted his side’s poor defending once again after their 1-0 Champions League defeat in Basle.
Marco Streller scored the only goal of the game from a corner in the 53rd minute to leave the Reds frustrated.
“We didn’t deserve anything out of this game,” Gerrard told Sky Sports.
“I thought we were too soft all over the pitch. I thought they wanted it more, which is very disappointing.
“Conceding again from a set-piece isn’t good enough, so we need to get it right.
“You’re not going to win a football match if you keep conceding from set-pieces.
“I thought we were second-best at times. I think they are an okay team, but I wouldn’t say we were blown off the park or that they were fantastic.
“We made it easy for them. There were signs against Everton (in Saturday’s 1-1 draw) that we were coming back closer to where we wanted to be.
“We were aggressive with and without the ball against Everton but we went back to where we have been for most of the season, which is not good enough.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers agreed and the return of Daniel Sturridge from injury cannot come quick enough to inject some pace and life into his side.
The striker, who is reported to be in advanced talks over a new contract, has missed the last six matches with a thigh injury and is unlikely to be fit for this weekend’s visit of West Brom so Rodgers has ruled him out of England’s upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.
“I spoke to Roy. I am not sure if Daniel will be fit for the weekend so I think at this moment he won’t be in the squad,” said the Reds boss.
“I think over the next couple of weeks Daniel has to get up to speed and hopefully after the international break he will be able to play for us, which is the priority.”
Liverpool dropped to third in Group B after their defeat and with back-to-back matches against defending champions Real Madrid it does not get any easier.
“It was always going to be a group that would probably go right to the end - certainly for the second position,” Rodgers added.
“We’re under no illusion that the next couple of games are tough games but our objective is still to qualify, get through and into the knockout stages. That’s still the focus for us.
“It was a disappointing result for us but our next game will be a great occasion for us at Anfield.
“We’re really looking forward to that now because in this competition in particular your home games are very important.
“No matter who it is, we will go into the game with a positive mindset.
“Hopefully at the end of the group stage, we’ll qualify – because that’s our aim.”
