Riera: We must get our heads right

Albert Riera says Liverpool need to get their heads right if they are to overcome their recent blip.


The Reds have picked up just one victory from the last nine matches and have slipped to seventh in the Barclays Premier League table.

They were fortunate to draw 2-2 at home to Birmingham City on Monday and are now 11 points off the top.

Rafa Benitez's men are also struggling in the Champions League and Riera believes the players are suffering from a 'mental block'.

Riera said: "In games like the one against Birmingham you could see we were trying to do everything.

"We played wide, between the lines, always going forward and only defending with two centre-backs. We were really unlucky, because they had one free-kick and one shot from a long way out.

"We are trying to play like we have always done but you can see it is not working. We have been really unlucky this year, because of all the injuries and because we have conceded a lot of goals from set-pieces. You did not see that last year and we are the same players, working in the same way.

"Now our problem could be mental, because we are being untidy, as much as I do not like to say that. We have plenty of possession, plenty of opportunities, and while it is clear we have to manage conceding goals from free-kicks, we should be winning games like the Birmingham match."