Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson can see an improvement in his side but still wants them to attain a higher level and be consistent. Despite their poor start to the season Liverpool are only seven points adrift of Manchester City heading into the weekend's games.
Hodgson expects his players to, at the very least, maintain their current level but still wants an improvement - particularly away from home.
"My message to them is what you have got to be doing for the next 22 games; we need 22 more like the last three," he said.
"Less than that we will let ourselves down and if we can do a little bit more still, which I think we can, then I shall be happy.
"There aren't many teams in the league who have a very good record, home records seem to be the order of the day.
"The only way to put a poor record behind you is to get the results and maybe we need a bit of luck.
"At the moment we are near the top of a middle group but there are still five or six teams way above us - even Tottenham are six points above us.
"Six points doesn't sound a lot but in this league at the end of the season six points is going to separate an enormous amount of clubs so I still do think we have got an awful lot to do.
"I'm not trying to dampen enthusiasm or expectations; I'm just trying to be realistic."
