Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has been encouraged by boss Brendan Rodgers to contribute goals and help lone striker Luis Suarez attack at Anfield.

The Spaniard has been given a more attacking left-wing role since the start of the season, grabbing a goal against Wigan and has revealed that Rodgers has told him to get forward more and chip in with his fair share.

“The manager has told Raheem [Sterling] and myself over the last few weeks that we have to help out in the box and score goals,” Enrique told the club’s official website.

“Every team needs to [get bodies in the penalty area]. If you put crosses in, you need people in the box. Otherwise no-one will be there to finish the chance. So I try to arrive as much as I can.

“In every game you see goals like [the one I scored against Wigan] where players are arriving near the goalline and they have just one touch to put the ball in the net.

“You don’t have to score an amazing goal all the time. So I think it’s really important to try and be in those positions and get goals from there.

“If I continue to play in the left-wing position then I am definitely going to try and get more goals because in that position you have to.

“I like playing on the wing because I really like to go and attack, like everyone does. Most people prefer to attack than defend. That’s just normal.”

EXCLUSIVE
By James McManus

Everton legend Neville Southall believes Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny should be a much more accomplished player than he currently is, citing a lack of ambition and drive as factors for his stalled development.

Arsene Wenger’s side have kept five clean sheets in their opening 13 league games so far this season, with the Poland international featuring just four times after being restricted by injury, but Southall remains unconvinced that the 22-year-old is making the most of his potential.

“I don’t think he’s over-confident. I think he could work harder and I don’t think he makes a lot of the right decisions sometimes,” Southall exclusively told Goal.com.

“As a goalkeeper, you look at that and think ‘I’m concentrating and how best to do my job’. Whether that means trying to put your feet in line, to come for a ball, and this can sometimes effect him.

“I do look at him and think he could be probably 35% better off than what he is.

“Again, is that his desire to learn or is it that he’s just quite happy where he is? When goalkeepers first appear, they’re not on good money and then all of a sudden you get offered a lot of money and it takes some people years to get over that and sometimes they don’t, they just go on with their game.

“You look at him and he’s got an improved contract, but does he want to stick at Arsenal all his life or does he want to go and play for a bigger club? I know Arsenal is a big club, but does he want to go an play for a Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United or City?

“If he doesn’t want to try and get there and is quite happy where he is, I wouldn’t be too pleased, because I want him to be ambitious and acquit himself.

“Maybe he’s not being pushed enough and you look at all the Arsenal goalkeepers and I don’t think they’re pushed hard enough and they don’t try hard enough.

“I don’t see a massive improvement in anyone there and you look at it and think ‘you need to work harder at your craft’.

“He’s got the ability to be a really great goalie, but he’s got to be pushed for that. Nobody is going to say ‘well you’re a good goalie, here’s the rest to make you a better one’, you’ve got to push on yourself and try and improve every single day on the training ground.”

On the subject of goalkeepers, Southall reserved special praise for Liverpool shot-stopper Pepe Reina, citing that he is the best that the club have had for a number of years after the Merseyside outfit were recently linked with a move for Wigan’s Ali Al-Habsi.

He added: “He’s the best goalkeeper that they’ve had since Bruce Grobelaar by a mile and he’s good to watch.

“I think distribution wise he’s miles better than Al-Habsi, they’ve both got their merits but overall I’d have Pepe Reina.

“As I say, he’s a massive goalkeeper, he makes more goals and starts more attacks than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League.”

Signed copies of Neville Southall’s autobiography, The Binman Chronicles, are available exclusively from decoubertin.co.uk

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed captain Steven Gerrard’s performances as he adapts to the club’s new style of football.

The 32-year-old is in his 14th year with the Anfield side and although he has not been as potent in front of goal as in previous seasons, Rodgers believes that he is thriving as a senior figure at the club.

“Over the years Steven has always been the player who makes the difference,” Rodgers told reporters.

“He may not have had the goals this season that he has wanted but he has still been effective. He has obviously had to take on more of a mantle because it is a much younger group.

“There is probably a bit more responsibility on him in relation to looking out more for the team because of its youthfulness.

“I just want him to be the player he is. The great thing is he wants to penetrate. Our game isn’t about possession, though it is about keeping the ball of course.

“It’s about tempo and the speed of the game and the way he plays and passes and the tempo of his game is superb.”

The 39-year-old also hinted that he may try to sign Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, stating that he hopes to bring a few players in but that there is always uncertainty whenever new managers join sides, such as Rafael Benitez’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.

“You never know when new managers go into clubs, but we will see what happens over the course of the market for us,” Rodgers added.

“Hopefully we can get a few in. Obviously Ian Ayre has been dealing with transfer stuff in the background and doing a great job along with the recruitment team.”