Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has requested that frustrated fans remain patient.

The Reds have suffered six defeats in their last seven games and are in their worst run of form for almost 60 years.

Manager Kenny Dalglish has been widely criticised for his role in the slump and will have to deliver an evaluative report to the club's owners at the end of the season.

Despite the poor league form and reality that the club cannot realistically achieve their pre-season goal of Champions League qualification, captain Gerrard has reassured supporters that the players will resolve their recent on-field issues.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead this season. I'd ask the supporters to be patient; we will get it right," he said.

"We have had a mixed March. We're in a league position we're not happy about and we need to look at ourselves and try to move up the league as soon as possible."

Gerrard was named the club's player of the month in March, after he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Merseyside derby for almost 30 years.

Liverpool play Aston Villa at Anfield tomorrow.