Liverpool's Stewart Downing has hit back at the critics who have rounded on him for his indifferent displays this season.
Former Middlesbrough winger aims for top-four finish with Reds
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has hit back at the critics who have rounded on him for his indifferent displays this season.
Downing joined the Anfield outfit last summer for £20million from Aston Villa and was expected to provide the width Liverpool have lacked for years.
Yet along with the other high-profile signings at the club - Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson - the Kop is still waiting to see their best displays.
Liverpool face Everton on Tuesday in what will be a combustible derby clash and the England wide man insists he and his fellow new signings will come good for the Carling Cup winners.
"Some people look at it and say, 'They are all internationals or they paid this fee for that player they should just come in and do a job'," he told the
Daily Star.
Reality
"In reality it doesn't happen like that. There are many examples from the past of a lot of foreign players coming in and struggling at first.
"Then all of a sudden, they have set the world alight and become top players. A few of the players have been getting used to Anfield, the lads around them and to Liverpool itself."
Liverpool claimed the Carling Cup last month with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Cardfiff. They are still in the FA Cup and have an outside chance of finishing in the top-four.
If they achieve these targets, the former Middlesbrough starlet will view the campaign as a success.
He added: "If we get to another final and manage to finish in the top four it will have been a very good season for the club considering the additions we had in the summer."
