Gerrard issues semi-final rallying cry

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has warned his side they must perform much better than they did at Bolton on Saturday if they are to make it into the Carling Cup final.

The Reds hold the advantage going into the semi-final second-leg against Manchester City on Wednesday as they are 1-0 up from the first leg thanks to Gerrard’s penalty.

They entertain Roberto Mancini’s men, however, on the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday and Gerrard pulled no punches ahead of the second leg over the level of performance needed at Anfield. Those following the best in-play Carling Cup betting should remember this.

“I have been here a long time and experienced days like that and the important thing is to move on from it fast. If we perform like that against Manchester City, there will be no Wembley trip,” Gerrard told the club’s website.

“There is no good time to perform like that when you play for this club. You have to win every game.

“The fans won’t accept it, they don’t deserve it. It’s not allowed. Otherwise you get criticised by your manager, like we have all experienced.”

Dalglish laid into his expensively-assembled squad following the Bolton debacle and has also urged his side to bounce back against City as they look to make it to their first major domestic final since 2006.

The Reds have yet to play at Wembley since it’s redevelopment and do have the upper hand thanks to that first-leg win, but City winger Adam Johnson is confident his side can go to Anfield and overturn the deficit and claim a final spot against Cardiff City, who beat Crystal Palace on Tuesday in the other semi-final.

“No-one is expecting us to go through so the pressure is off for once and we can go there with freedom, play our football and have a go,” Johnson said.

“It won’t be easy but we are quietly confident.”