STEVEN GERRARD has urged Liverpool to show the bottle to go out and beat Manchester United this weekend - even if he isn't able to lead the Reds himself.
Gerrard admits that the eagerly awaited visit of the champions to Anfield may come just a little too soon for him after his recent groin op.
But he believes that with a positive attitude the Reds can score a significant victory.
"When we play them (United and Chelsea)," he said, "we've got to get the right balance between being organised and strong defensively, yet having the bottle to go and win. Going into these games negatively and too defensively, you can still lose, as we have done.
"Against Chelsea in the cups, we've done them more than they've done us, but in the league we have to be a bit more attack-minded to win.
"Over the last couple of years we've gone into games against United and Chelsea very organised tactically - defensive if you like - and still lost 1-0.
"Have the same sound defence and show more guts going forward, and it could be 1-0 to us.
"In these matches the first goal is massive; if you concede it, nine times out of 10 you don't get back. It's important a few risks are taken to try to score that goal because it gives you such a psychological boost."
Gerrard is hoping to be fit to return for the midweek Champions League trip to Marseille, after revealing: "The decision about surgery was taken after our game against Standard Liege. I had a meeting with the club doctor on the day of the game and said the discomfort was getting to the stage where I couldn't continue.
"I'd had to double, then treble, my dose of painkillers to train and play, and I was having to take them during games. You get to the stage where you can't grind it out any longer. I told the doctor, 'I can't find my level, I can't get to 100per cent because I'm missing training sessions and I don't feel right in games. I don't feel I can go to the max'. I couldn't sprint flat out, couldn't pass more than 30 yards and couldn't shoot properly and, as much as you want to be out there for every game, there are times when you have got to forget about England and Liverpool and get yourself right.
"I have a decent chance for the Champions League game in Marseilles. I've spoken to the manager and told him I'd like to do a certain amount of training before I come back. I don't want to go into a big game only having had one session with the boys."
Gerrard also revealed he had spoken to manager Rafa Benitez about his future role in the side.
"In the summer I looked him in the eye and told him where I want to play, which is centre midfield," he added.
"I told him that's the way I like to play, you get the most out of me when I'm box-to-box, defending at one end, then getting my passing game going and getting to the edge of the box for shots. I find it difficult to play how I want in the other positions.
"I love it when a manager says to me, 'You're playing in the middle, I want you to go and run this game'. That's music to my ears. Rafa told me, when the Robbie Keane deal went through, that his plan was to play Keane behind [Fernando] Torres and to drop me back to play centrally. I know Rafa Benitez better than most people now and in some games he'll ask me to play different roles, but he knows what I prefer.
"Other players don't get shunted around because they can't do it. I can't go and play on the right or the left and become Kaka or Robinho, I just go out, give 100per cent and do a steady job.
"I'll work hard, do my bit defensively and help the team. That's why managers do it to me, but it is affecting me. My game suffers when my position is changed. I'm a central midfielder and in the big games I want to play in the middle and show that I'm one of the very best in that position.
"For Liverpool, I've played everywhere bar in goal: centre-half at Coventry, left-back at Maine Road and right-back nearly 40 times.
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