Stevie: We need a reaction
Steven Gerrard today challenged the Reds to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at Sunderland and secure Merseyside bragging rights with a derby victory tomorrow night.
The Reds will welcome Everton to Anfield on the back of three successive league defeats leading the skipper to insist it's time for the players to stand up and be counted.
"The players need to take responsibility for where we are in the league," Gerrard said.
"It's just not good enough for a club like us to be there. We have to find a better level of consistency.
"We need a reaction and there's no better team to produce that against than Everton.
"These are the games you always look forward to. It's a night match and there's going to be a fantastic atmosphere at Anfield.
"It's important the players put in a performance and get a result for the fans. Everyone is a bit down after recent results but we want to put a smile back on their faces.
"It's a big week and we want to go into that Cup tie with Stoke on the back of a win."
Gerrard admits the Reds were below par at Sunderland on Saturday as they succumbed to a second half strike from Nicklas Bendtner.
Following on from an undeserved loss to Arsenal the previous week, the skipper admits it's a source of disappointment the squad haven't pushed on in the league since their Carling Cup glory at Wembley.
"The Carling Cup was a fantastic achievement. Everyone connected with the club was delighted and rightly so," Gerrard added.
"But it's gone now, it's been put to bed. We have to forget about that.
"We wanted to build on winning the Carling Cup by pushing for the top four but it hasn't happened so far as we've lost two on the bounce.
"We need to sort our league form out sharpish and try to get back to Wembley in the FA Cup. That Stoke game has become even more important than it was a few weeks ago.
"The frustrating thing is we went from a fantastic performance, an eight or nine out of 10 against Arsenal, to a three or four out of 10 against Sunderland.
"We didn't deserve to lose to Arsenal. We should have had the points wrapped up at half-time.
"But on Saturday there were no excuses. You can look for the easy way out and say the pitch was bad and it was windy but the fact is we just weren't good enough on the day.
"They dealt with the conditions a lot better than us and as players we have to take responsibility for a bad performance.
"When you go away in the Premier League you have to earn the right to play in the opening 15 to 20 minutes. You need to win the battle and then hopefully your quality takes over.
"We just didn't get out of first gear in the first half. We improved a bit in the second half but as a whole it wasn't good enough."
The Reds will be looking for an improved display when in-form Everton visit Anfield tomorrow night on the back of a weekend victory over Tottenham.
"Everton are doing well and are a decent side," added Gerrard.
"David Moyes has made a few good signings for them in January, getting Steven Piennar back and bringing in a striker (Nikica Jelavic).
"They seem to have done what they usually do and that's get stronger and stronger as the season goes on.
"But it doesn't matter what form you are in - that goes out of the window in derbies.
"These matches always have that extra bit of spice and edge because of the rivalry.
"Once that whistle goes, it's ferocious for the first 15 to 20 minutes and whoever takes control after that usually goes on to win it.
"Whoever wants it the most will come out on top. We have to show that desire."