Steven Gerrard believes England will be well prepared for penalties at the World Cup, but the captain insists the side won't obsess over shoot-outs.

Liverpool's skipper has been sensational in those high-pressure situations for the Reds, netting 10 penalties last season as he equalled Jan Molby's record of 42 successful spot-kicks for the club.

However, the Three Lions have not been so steely when faced with such tense scenarios, exiting six of their last 10 major tournaments through penalty heartache.

England last won a shoot-out during a top showpiece at Euro 96, with Gerrard facing disappointment first-hand 10 years later as his effort was saved in the World Cup quarter-final exit to Portugal.

He made no mistake in Euro 2012 against Italy, but again, the national team were dumped out by the dreaded lottery.

"It's difficult to describe what it is like," he told BBC's Five Live of the feeling before you step up to the spot.

"Unfortunately for me, I failed in that situation when I took a penalty in a World Cup environment and it was a difficult atmosphere to be in.

"I learnt my lessons from that and a couple of years ago I scored the penalty I was asked to take.

"We are going to practice penalties a lot, but it is a difficult situation to put into words and describe it. There is a lot of pressure."

Gerrard admitted there's a great difference in taking penalties during a game, as opposed to after extra-time during a tournament.

"You have an awful lot more time to think about your penalty and what is at stake is a lot bigger and it is a pressure situation," he explained.

"A penalty shoot-out is a more pressurised situation than any one penalty in a league game."

There is also a preoccupation with England and shoot-outs, given their shaky showings from the spot, but the midfielder has urged everyone to keep calm.

"I can understand the fixation because we have failed in quite a few shoot-outs, but I would say don't get carried away with it because it might never come about," Gerrard added.

"As players hopefully we perform well enough in 90 minutes or 120 minutes to prevent it going to a shoot-out. But we will be ready for one if it comes around."

England have roped in sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, who has enhanced the mental strengths of players at Liverpool, to fortify the squad's psychology during the World Cup.