Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists his players do not lack the heart or the mind to win big games.
And he rejects the suggestion that for all the Reds’ possession-style football, they miss an enforcer, someone who can provide some competitive bite when the going gets tough.
After Sunday’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Rodgers accepted his side had been tentative in a woeful first-half performance.
Despite an improved display after the break, sparked mainly by the insertion of £12million striker Daniel Sturridge, they slipped to a seventh league defeat of the season.
“Aggression isn’t about having a 6ft 3ins player in the middle of the field who is going to drive you forward, aggression is in the mind,” said Rodgers.
“We have Steven Gerrard, who is one of the best examples of that in this country over the last 10 years.
“We have that aggression but it is not about what size you are, it is about the fight which is in there.
“In the second half the ability to fight was much better and we were much more aggressive in our play and attitude and we should have got something.”
After another near-miss, the fact remains Rodgers’ side have yet to beat any team currently in the top 10 in the league this season.
Their only victories have only come against Norwich, Reading, Wigan, Southampton, West Ham, Fulham, QPR and Sunderland.
The Reds boss is adamant there is no mental barrier for his players.
“We should have beaten Manchester City earlier this season, we should have beaten Everton away and we haven’t,” he said.
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