Ian Rush is adamant form will have no bearing on Monday's Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton.
Jurgen Klopp's side head into this match on a dismal run of one win in seven matches, which has featured painful away defeats at Brighton, Brentford and Wolves.
Everton, on the other hand, are on cloud nine after a morale-boosting triumph against league leaders Arsenal last weekend. Sean Dyche's aim will now be to build on that victory as he aims to exploit a Liverpool side low on confidence, in the same way Carlo Ancelotti managed two years ago.
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There has been little evidence of late to suggest the Reds are capable of turning their season around as they continue to get caught out in contests, though Rush is of the view this particular fixture cannot be predetermined by using ordinary methods.
"When you play in a Merseyside derby, form goes out the window. People say it is a myth, but it’s not," Liverpool's all-time top-scorer told the ECHO.
"Liverpool would be optimistic about a week ago, but Everton have beaten the team at the top of the table and Liverpool lost to Wolves so it’s more evened out. These games bring out the best in top players. In a Merseyside derby, you are playing for the supporters. They will get behind the team, as long as the team gives 100 per cent. It is easy to support a team when they’re winning, but it’s more important to do that when they’re not doing well to give the team confidence."
Plenty of theories have been put forward when attempting to explain Liverpool's decline, ranging from players being past their peak, Klopp's 'seventh season syndrome' and the mental fatigue of missing out on the quadruple.
The likes of Fabinho and Mohamed Salah serve as two examples of the squad struggling to reach their usual standards, resulting in the Reds languishing in tenth position. Injury setbacks to key individuals, Rush believes, has contributed to the team's troubles but there is no doubt in his mind that Klopp remains the right man for the job.
"We can’t blame the injuries, but we have been unlucky. People don’t realise how much they have achieved in the last two years; we nearly completed the quadruple and, possibly, overachieved. It’s disappointing where we are right now in the league and we would like to be higher, but that comes down to confidence as well. We have a couple of new players, too, who need time to adapt. Slowly but surely, we have to bring ourselves back to winning ways," said the 61-year-old.
“I wouldn’t criticise Klopp as I think he is a fantastic manager. He wants to rebuild, but they need time to do that. The most important thing on Monday will be the first 15 or 20 minutes as Liverpool have been letting in early goals. That didn’t worry me last year as you always knew they would come back but, this season, they are not scoring loads.
"When you’re missing chances, it does come down to confidence. As a striker, the most important thing is to never be scared to miss because if you start dropping deeper and deeper, you will never score. The players need to have self-belief as, ability-wise, they are a better squad than Everton.”
Ian Rush was speaking to the ECHO as part of an open day promoting The Anfield Abseil, which enables fans to complete a 100ft descent down the Main Stand.
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