Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called for frustrated fans to be patient as the team try to turn around their wretched run of results.

Six defeats in seven league matches have prompted all kinds of protests from disgruntled supporters.

After the jubilation of winning the Carling Cup in February, their first trophy for six years, there has been growing discontent at the way the team has fallen apart in the league, even though they have managed to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Two wins in 2012 have dropped Liverpool to eighth, allowing near-neighbours Everton to overtake them last weekend, and all outside hopes of making a late push for Champions League qualification have vanished.

The players and manager Kenny Dalglish have all been criticised, and although Gerrard accepts their current spell is far from what is expected, he believes they will come out the other side and be better in the longer-term.

“There are a lot of challenges ahead this season. I’d ask the supporters to be patient; we will get it right,” said the England international.

“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 after becoming the first scorer of a hat-trick in the Merseyside derby for almost 30 years.

And while he is grateful for the recognition, he knows unless the team improves individual awards will count for little.

“It’s always nice to be rewarded for personal achievements but from day one I have always said it’s about the team,” Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv.

“It’s nice as a player to know you’re doing your job properly. Now I need to help the team to improve and become more consistent.

“The Everton game was obviously a highlight for me in March. It was a great team performance but besides that there weren’t many highlights.

“Let’s hope April has many more and that we can climb up the table and get to the FA Cup final.

“Although we have been inconsistent in the league we have shown we are a stronger squad and can beat anyone.”