Gerrard hits back at Liverpool criticism

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has hit back at criticism of out-of-form striker Fernando Torres and beleaguered boss Roy Hodgson after the English giants’ dismal start to the season.

Torres has scored only once this term while Hodgson has presided over Liverpool’s worst start to a season for nearly 50 years, with the club languishing at 18th in the league.

However Gerrard has dismissed criticism of the duo as excessive, and believes both men will eventually prove their doubters wrong.

“It’s all completely over the top,” Gerrard told LFC Weekly on Tuesday.

“You only have to look at Fernando’s record since he walked through the door to know how good he is but he’s had a bad time with injuries of late.

“He wasn’t 100 percent going into the World Cup and he had a lot of criticism over the summer but he’ll bounce back. We all believe in him, he’s our top man. He’s a top player and he’s our goalscorer.”

Gerrard also said it was unfair to blame Liverpool’s woeful form on Hodgson, saying the players also were equally culpable.

“We’re all in this together, everyone at the club, from top to bottom,” Gerrard said. “We’ve all got to accept responsibility and pull together if we are to turn things around.”