Liverpool fans were right to vent their feelings

What they saw, having paid their £36 or so, was a poor game of football and with it a chance to take three points against a side we should have beaten go down the pan.

The Liverpool fans have been absolutely brilliant over the last 50 years and very rarely do they have a go at what they are seeing on the pitch.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Clearly, a lot of the frustration was over the performance - and, quite frankly, the selection - of Lucas Leiva in midfield.

The fans don't have a right to pick the team - that's what the manager is paid to do. But there were widespread concerns before kick-off, with Steven Gerrard being injured, at seeing Alonso also left out in favour of the young Brazilian.

But Lucas didn't show the energy, the tenacity or the drive that is absolutely vital in the engine room of a title-chasing side in the Premier League.

The football here is so much faster and tougher than the game in Brazil and maybe he is finding it difficult to adapt.

There must be ability there, but all Liverpool fans have long since been hoping to see it.

Certainly, the least they expect is a player showing the passion that comes with pulling on the shirt in the first place.

Maybe Lucas' confidence is a bit fragile, but my advice to him would be to stop worrying and next time he gets a chance, go out show people what he's made of, and finally prove he is far better than this.

He may be still only 20 but he has got to take the bull by the horns now and really get much more involved.

That said, the lad must not be made a scapegoat for Saturday's display. Very few players had good games and Robbie Keane was again far from the player we hoped to see for £20m.

So the frustration was in the air all afternoon, and the boos which came from all sides of the ground were probably aimed at the bench as much as in the direction of the players.

It doesn't happen often, thankfully. And, as I say, no one likes to hear it.

But I'm not going to criticise the best supporters in the world for making their feelings known. They have every right.

Steven Gerrard is the inspiration

THE atmosphere tonight will be very different for the visit of Marseille, particularly if Steven Gerrard is back to lead the charge.

The Fulham game again proved how important he is to us. With his return I can't see why we should have any problems getting the points we need to secure our place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

I know Marseille won at Anfield last season, but that should only encourage the lads to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I'm sure it won't.

A decent win will make everyone - players and supporters - feel much better.

So I'm pleased we've got a chance at home to make that happen so soon after Saturday's dismal blank day.