The captain was disappointed to allow a two-goal lead to slip against Notts County in the Capital One Cup but is hopeful the defender will not miss too much action

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes the whole team must accept responsibility for Kolo Toure’s groin injury.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were cruising 2-0 at half-time of Tuesday’s Capital One Cup second-round tie against Notts County before a second-half lapse saw the game head into extra time.

Liverpool won 4-2 in the end, but the victory came at a price as Toure was carried off on a stretcher and is now doubtful for Sunday’s Premier League encounter with fierce rivals Manchester United.

And Gerrard believes he and his team-mates have to share the blame for not beating the League One side in normal time.

“There’s no doubt playing extra time was a blow for us,” Gerrard is quoted as saying by The Liverpool Echo. 

“Kolo’s injury came in extra time. He wouldn’t have done that during normal time. We have ourselves to blame for his injury. We have to take responsibility for that.

“There’s an international break coming up, so fingers crossed he doesn’t miss that many games for Liverpool.”

Following a start to the season that includes three wins from three in all competitions, Gerrard believes the Anfield club are close to breaking back into the leading pack in the Premier League.

“For a long time, the gap between ourselves and United, Chelsea and now Manchester City has been too big,” he told the club’s official website.

“Each year we have been trying to close that gap, so really this season isn’t any different in that respect.

“But it does feel slightly different this year. The team spirit is really good and there is a belief within the squad.

“The changes the manager has made during the summer are really positive and hopefully there are still one or two more players to come in.”

Kolo Toure’s groin strain has forced Brendan Rodgers, who is also sweating on the fitness of Martin Skrtel, to table a €6.9 million bid for the 20-year-old Portuguese centre-half

By Paul Clennam

Liverpool are on the verge of agreeing a deal for Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Iloris.

The 20-year-old has been perused all summer long by Liverpool, who had hoped to secure the highly-rated centre-half at a discounted price, but a defensive injury crisis has prompted the Merseyside club to offer €6.9 million plus performance-related bonuses.

Brendan Rodgers’ pressing need for defensive reinforcements was exacerbated by the groin strain suffered by summer signing Kolo Toure during Tuesday’s Capital One Cup victory over Notts County at Anfield.

The Cote d’Ivoire international’s injury was described as “not so good” by his manager, who is also sweating on the fitness of Martin Skrtel ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash against Manchester United at Anfield, while Aly Cissokho was also stretchered off just 10 minutes into his home debut against the League one club.

Rodgers has invested heavily in the transfer market this summer recruiting the likes of Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet, as well as the aforementioned Toure.

Liverpool also appear to have won the battle to keep hold of controversial striker Luis Suarez, at least for another season.

The Uruguay international, who was the subject of two failed bids from Arsenal earlier this month, took part in a behind closed doors friendly against Preston on Wednesday in which he scored in front of his watching manager.

The controversial striker has just three games of his suspension to go, and will return to action at the home of the Reds’ greatest rivals at the end of September

Luis Suarez could be in line to make his Liverpool return against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Capital One Cup.

Having already served seven games of a 10-match suspension, he will miss clashes against United, Swansea and Southampton before making his return at the home of the Reds’ bitterest rivals in the week commencing September 23.

The striker was banned for 10 matches for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic at the end of last season.

Suarez, who was convicted of racially abusing Patrice Evra by the Football Association in 2011-12, can expect a hostile reception from United fans on his return to action, should he be named in Liverpool’s match day squad.

The 26-year-old scored against Port Vale in a behind-closed-doors run-out on Wednesday afternoon as he prepares to return to the first-team.

The Uruguayan had been keen to leave Anfield this summer, but is now resigned to staying with the club for one more season after Arsenal failed to seal his signature.

Elsewhere in the third-round draw, holders Swansea City were drawn away to Birmingham City, Manchester City host Wigan in a re-run of the FA Cup final, Chelsea travel to Swindon and Arsenal visit West Brom.