Why criticism of Dirk Kuyt is unfair

I know that Dirk has come in for a bit of criticism this season because he has not scored the goals he would have liked, but you could never have a go at him for the effort he puts in.

That says a lot about him as a person because it can be easy to go and hide when things aren't going too well for you. But Dirk never does that. He keeps showing for the ball and fighting for the team.

Peter Crouch was also excellent. I know how hard it can be when you play up front on your own and there were times in the second half when he was a bit isolated. However, his hold up play was superb and that allowed the midfield runners to get forward into attack.

But what I would say is that Liverpool have to use this performance as the benchmark for the rest of their season.

There's no point going to Chelsea, being the better side and getting a good result if you don't reproduce that kind of effort and determination in the games to come.

In recent weeks, Liverpool have started far too slowly in games at Anfield against lesser opponents and that has given them a chance to settle. But if Liverpool get at them like they got at Chelsea then there are few sides who can live with them.

The way they played at Chelsea showed everyone just what they can do and now they have to do it in every game.