Steven Gerrard has refused to single out Phillipe Coutinho after Jamie Carragher claimed the midfielder was ‘miles off it’ during Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
The former Liverpool pair are both under increasing pressure at Villa, with the Midlands club in 16th after just two wins and seven goals from their opening nine league games. Coutinho’s influence has come under scrutiny since his loan from Barcelona was made permanent in the summer for £17million.
The Brazilian started at the City Ground last night, but failed to make any significant impact again before being substituted on the hour mark. He is yet to register a goal or an assist in 10 appearances and has only played the full 90 minutes on one occasion, with constant calls among the Villa Park faithful that he be dropped for Emi Buendia.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp press conference LIVE - Liverpool injury news, Luis Diaz update, Rangers preview
READ MORE: Five ways Liverpool could replace Luis Diaz as clear favourite emerges after major injury blow
And after another lacklustre performance, Carragher claimed the ex-Reds magician was ‘a million miles off it’.
But speaking to BirminghamLive after the final whistle, Gerrard refused to single out his marquee summer signing, insisting that the responsibility to score goals sits with all of his forwards.
"Everyone will debate, have an opinions, I’m sure they will fly around in the next 24 to 48 hours. The key for me is that Phil knows he can be better, he has been open and said that himself.
"He’s not the only one, from an attacking point of view we are getting into really good areas of the pitch, we’ve got more than Phil in the final third who also need top 10 forward and give us more. Once we get that from the big players and the big names I’m sure we will move up the league.
"If we got it tonight then we could have been sitting here in ninth, that’s the frustrating thing."
Gerrard is under intense pressure at Villa for his failure to get the best out of a side that, by their own admission, should be reaching for the top-half of the table at the least. The former Liverpool captain’s inability to get goals from a front-line that, alongside Coutinho, includes Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey, has been a huge cause of frustration.
This summer’s decision to strip Tyrone Mings of the captaincy and then publicly call him out has also angered fans, and despite several big-name summer signings, the Villa boss is yet to figure out his best lineup.
READ NEXT
-
Kylian Mbappe next club odds as Liverpool tipped ahead of Manchester City, Chelsea and more
-
Luis Diaz Liverpool return date confirmed after knee injury against Arsenal
-
Kylian Mbappe might have cost Liverpool their perfect transfer target
-
Why Liverpool were denied penalty by VAR but Arsenal's was given
