“No one in this group likes to be beat, no one likes to see our recent results. They’re all positive in wanting to change that.

“We move forward, we have to persevere and we have to keep trying to improve these players.

“We knew coming into this job that this was going to take time to get right.

“What I will say about my players is that everyone’s trying to pull in the same direction to change the results.

“There are different ways to build a winning mentality.

“Obviously, recruitment is one. That is a big thing. We have identified areas in the team where we need to improve and get better which we will do in due time.

“It’s about raising the standards of the club in every single compartment, identifying the players who maybe can’t bring that and, also, playing the players that you do know do have it in the short-term.

“It is not something which can change overnight. You have to keep working on it, players need to keep improving and believing.”

I like what I see in terms of the day to day stuff off Ollie [Watkins]. He’s working hard on the training pitch. He’s a great kid that’s got my full trust.

“He’s proved that he’s scored goals and can play extremely well.

“When we first came into the job he was probably the most positive and consistent player over the initial games.

“All players have a dip and a drop off in their careers at different times. Ollie will bounce back and will bounce back well.

“We just need to manage him the right way in all aspects.

“Last week, we decided to take a little bit of spotlight off him in the initial start of the game to give Danny [Ings] an opportunity and Ollie came on and tried to make a difference in the game.*

“We didn’t score in the game as a team so this isn’t about shining a spotlight on Ollie, it’s collectively as an attacking group, we need to be more ruthless and more clinical in the final third.

“I’ve got the belief that it will come in due time.”

Steven Gerrard, Pre-match.

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“We’ve been on the back of some sticky form of late but credit to the players they stuck at.

“We came out of the blocks in good form today and put in a really strong performance.

“In the main we owned the pitch out of possession today and all our good stuff came from that. We looked the most dangerous team throughout.

“The focus and concentration from the boys today out of possession was superb.

“The performance was there against Watford.

“Against Newcastle the performance and the result was not there.

“We needed to be more clinical and inventive in the final third and we were today.

“That second goal put us in a much more comfortable place.

“Ollie’s on the transition. He showed great power, great strength in his running and the finish at the end of it deserved to win the football match for us.

“We can’t forget the first strike which was outstanding from Cashy but the most pleasing thing for me was how we controlled the game out of possession today.

"I thought we were really organised. Everyone really brought into what we wanted to do out of possession. That gave us a right good base to win a tough football match away from home.

“It’s always important that when you go through a sticky patch you stay together and that you keep believing and keep doing the right things it’ll only be a matter of time before it changes.

“Now, the important thing for us is to take the confidence and belief from today’s performance and build on it for next week against Southampton.

“The preparations were challenging today because of a crash on the motorway but the players remained focused and calm and, you know, we stayed controlled and kept patient. The players delivered a top performance today.

“It was a fantastic moment for Ollie.

“He’s a great kid, very humble and he’ll be more pleased with the win, the three points and the clean sheet and making the supporters happy on the way home.

“He’s someone who is very selfless, the running he does for the team is outstanding and he certainly deserved his goal today on the back of his performance and, hopefully, it’ll give him confidence now for the remaining games.

“I said in the week that I’ve got a lot of belief in my players, collectively and individually, I told Ollie that.

“We went slightly different at the top end of the pitch today with two No.9s and we certainly got our rewards from it.”

Steven Gerrard, Post match.

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”It was a great way to bounce back. It has been a tough couple of weeks for us. We have stuck together in training, we’ve gone out and team bonded and lifted spirits really. A fantastic win.

“I just keep trying to get shots and crosses off, with the system we have that is what I try to do.

“We came here last year and it was one of our toughest fixtures. This time we countered well and got a couple of goals, it is good.

“Every game is hard in this league and we just focus on us. We have a good team and a fantastic manager. We can only do what we can do.”

Matty Cash.