Johnson: We're all fighting for the fans
Glen Johnson insists the entire Liverpool squad has the necessary fight to transform their recent results, beginning with what the defender admits is a 'massive week' for the team coming up.
The Reds endured three consecutive defeats before the international break, each by a single goal, at Newcastle United and Real Madrid, and latterly on home soil against Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.
A fortnight without a fixture has merely increased the determination around Melwood to ensure that when domestic action does resume this weekend, Brendan Rodgers' side can build the foundations of a winning run.
It starts at Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, and with preparation now well underway for the trip south, Johnson directed a reassuring message to the supporters from the training ground.
"The fans here are great and always support the team," the full-back told Liverpoolfc.com.
"They need to know that the lads are fighting to put the results right. As always, we'll all be pulling in the same direction. It's not easy to overcome any defeat.
"The good thing about football is that usually you have an opportunity to put things right a few days later. But to lose a game like that just before the international break, it looms over you slightly longer.
"The key now is to try to keep doing what we do every day - stay together, work hard and not try to do anything that we don't usually do.
"There are some top players here and top guys as well. The squad is close, there is a good bunch of lads, and everyone is certainly fighting to try to get some more points on the board."
Within 48 hours of tackling Palace, the squad will travel to Bulgaria for a pivotal Champions League tie with Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday evening.
The clash is a must-win to maintain the Reds' hopes of progressing to the tournament's knockout stages, but while acknowledging its importance, Johnson stressed that Sunday's match has to be the starting point.
"It is a massive week," he said. "The first game back after the international break is always an important game because every team is obviously trying to go on a decent run of gaining points.
"We have got to take the weekend first and hopefully get three points and then we can hopefully go on a good run.
"Crystal Palace have obviously had a break as well and will have been concentrating on this game since their last one. They need a few points, so it's going to be an important game.
"This is the Premier League and every team is tough to beat. It's never as easy as it looks on paper. Every team is fighting for their lives or fighting to climb up the table with those extra points."