Steven Gerrard, left, was on target in Romania on Thursday and wants a more positive attitude from his team-mates. Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters


 
 

Steven Gerrard has called on Liverpool to show more adventure in their quest for a top-four finish and Europa League triumph that would, according to manager Rafael Benítez, erase the disappointments of this campaign.

Liverpool advanced into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night with a 3-1 win over Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest and set up a meeting with the French side Lille. It was the first time in five months that Benítez's team have scored more than two goals in a game and was also notable for the 33rd European goal of Gerrard's Liverpool career, taking him clear of Alan Shearer in the list of all-time British goalscorers in continental competition.

Victory in Romania came at a price for Liverpool, who yesterday confirmed Martin Skrtel suffered a broken metatarsal against Unirea and will also be without his fellow central defender, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, due to suspension against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow. The length of Skrtel's absence is still to be determined. But Gerrard believes the improvement in Liverpool's attacking edge at the Steaua Stadium has set a standard the team must continue to meet to secure qualification for next season's Champions League.

"It was slightly worrying that we were not creating enough chances in recent matches," admitted the Liverpool captain. "But that's what made the performance against Unirea so pleasing. Now we've got to get the balance right between now and the end of the season. We've got to be good defensively but have a bit of bottle and be a bit risky in the final third as well. You have got to keep making chances."

Gerrard said he is gradually returning to form after an injury-plagued campaign. "I've suffered injuries at bad times and when I have been coming back from injuries, my form hasn't clicked straight away. But I can see signs that it is coming back," said the midfielder, who will captain England in the friendly against Egypt next week. "The target now is to try and win the Europa League and finish fourth. That would be a bit of a nice way to finish a disappointing season."

On paper Liverpool have an inviting Premier League run-in and with Fernando Torres returning from injury, albeit expected to start only on the bench against Blackburn, plus Yossi Benayoun fit again, Benítez is confident of delivering another strong finale to achieve fourth place. The Liverpool manager said: "We are normally strong towards the end of the season. If we can finish in the top four and do well in the Europa League then maybe things earlier in the season will be forgotten easier."

Benítez reiterated his belief that pre-season expectations on Liverpool bore no relation to the financial reality of a club that spent only what it raised through player sales last summer. He said: "We know it has not been the best season but that is because the expectations from some people were too high anyway. That's the main difference for me. But if we can improve now, and end up in the top four, it will have been a very good achievement – even more so if we stay in the Europa League to the end.

"People do have short memories and if we can finish well, it can all change. People think of one game, or maybe just two or three and no more, but that is normal in football now. When you have been in Europe for a long while, like we have, we know you just have to keep going and working hard."

Liverpool have appointed Manchester City's former head of communications, Paul Tyrrell, as their new head of press.


 
 
 

Let's be more attacking now, says Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard