Nobody will want to reverse Liverpool's fortunes at the outset of this season more than captain Steven Gerrard as the No.8 attempts to add further successes late on in his phenomenal career.

The Reds have been beaten in three of their opening five Barclays Premier League matches in 2014-15, having also required a stoppage-time penalty by the skipper to kick off their Champions League participation with a win.

While that spot-kick saw off the challenge of Ludogorets Razgrad in midweek, West Ham United were unforgiving at Upton Park yesterday by building on two early strikes to secure a 3-1 result over Brendan Rodgers' team.

The fixtures keep coming; Middlesbrough visit Anfield on Tuesday evening for a Capital One Cup encounter, in a prelude to the first Merseyside derby of the campaign and Everton's journey across Stanley Park next Saturday.

It is a safe bet that Gerrard will be rallying the troops he leads in the coming days, determined to resurrect the spirit and verve that thrilled Kopites last season as he targets a flourish to remember.

"Obviously I've been with this team when it's had its dips and its bad times when you're finishing seventh and eighth," he told the Anfield Wrap.

"Brendan coming in, for me personally and everyone connected to the club, was a breath of fresh air. He's obviously moved me position-wise, which has given me a new lease of life and I've enjoyed that role in that team and that position.

"For me, I want to make the most of my last couple of years, I don't want it to fizzle out and I don't want people to look at me as if I'm just here to see out my career.

"I'm here to win and certainly this season and maybe next year I want to finish on a high note and the only way for that to happen would be to try to get a trophy in the bag and to keep Champions League here."