Liverpool ace Adam: Axe fear inspiring my form

Liverpool ace Charlie Adam credits his form to fear of the selection axe.

He says the fear of falling out of favour under manager Kenny Dalglish’s regime has become a major motivating factor for him and for every other player that has helped ­inspire a seven-game ­unbeaten run.

Adam said: “It is always up to the manager who he picks, but when you come to a club like Liverpool, it is a squad game.

“You know there are 25 players who are internationals, so it is going to be difficult to get in the team.

“It means when you get an opportunity, you have got to take it. Everyone has to show they want to be in the team and I think all the players have tried to do that.

“You only have to look at the names who didn’t start on Saturday (in the 2-0 win at West Brom) – Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Craig ­Bellamy coming off the bench – to get an idea of what it is like.

“If you’re at a big club, that’s what happens. You need different options. If we can use that to our advantage at different stages of the season, then we’ll look to do that.

“We are on the right track, but we know that if at any time we drop our standards, then we could be dropped too.”