Gerrard: we never turned up

STEVEN GERRARD has revealed his dismay after Liverpool’s Champions League horror show in Florence which has thrown their quest to reach the knockout stages into disarray.

Liverpool were soundly beaten 2-0 by Fiorentina in the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Tuesday night, and now face tricky back-to-back clashes with Group E leaders Lyon, who have won each of their two matches so far.

Captain Gerrard accepted the criticism of Liverpool’s abject performance, saying: “We just didn’t turn up.”

But he also remained optimistic, claiming: “We will be fine if we win our home games.”

However, he knows that Liverpool are now under intense pressure of their own making.

Liverpool’s display in Italy was made particularly surprising given that it came after six successive victories for the Anfield men and much praise for the deluge of goals so far this campaign.

While Liverpool prepare to face French giants Lyon – at home on October 20 and away on November 4 – Fiorentina will expect to be winning their own back-to-back ties with Debrecen on those dates.

The Hungarian champions are already proving the whipping boys of the group, without a point or goal following two defeats.

They lost 4-0 at home to Lyon on Tuesday night, and Fiorentina will be expected to win both their matches against a club in their first Champions League group campaign.

That would give Fiorentina nine points, and leave Liverpool with it all to do against Lyon.

Gerrard said: “We were disappointed to lose in Florence, we were second best all over the pitch and deserved to go in at the break losing.

“The reaction was better in the second half and we created some chances, but we just could not get into the game.

“We did not do what we usually do away from home in Europe, there was no real tempo in our game.

“We normal play at a high tempo and pass the ball really well, and play well on the counter-attack.

“But all over the pitch, front to back, we just did not turn up, particularly in that first half.

“But I believe this group is still wide open, there’s plenty of football to be played and we are now in the same position as Fiorentina with a win and a defeat, and they still have to face us at Anfield.

“If we win our next home game, and that’s against the group leaders Lyon, things will be different. If we win our home games now that should still be enough, we’ll be fine.

“But we need to get this defeat out of our system quickly, because we have a massive game now at Chelsea on Sunday.

“What we need is to produce a reaction from this defeat at Stamford Bridge, that has to be the aim now.”

Liverpool were shattered by a first-half double from teenage striker Stevan Jovetic, the Montenegro international.

Gerrard admitted: “We knew a bit about them so we had an idea what to expect, and their young striker did well. We will have to keep an eye on him at Anfield, that’s for sure.”

Defender Jamie Carragher agreed the Reds were well beaten on the night, but is also confident of bouncing back. Carragher said: “We didn’t perform well enough, we know.

“Nothing went to plan. They seemed to be more ready for it.

“It is something we have got to sort out but fortunately we have still got four games to put that right.”