DIRK KUYT believes Liverpool’s hard work will eventually pay off – but admits the side are not performing to their best at the moment.

The Dutchman returned to the side after a shoulder injury to grab the opening goal of the game against Sunderland on Saturday in bizarre circumstances.

A double from Darren Bent turned the game on its head as Liverpool required captain Steven Gerrard to bail them out once again with an expert header just after the hour.

Kuyt concedes if the team were playing at full capacity then the weekend’s 2-2 draw would almost certainly have been a second win of the Premier League season for Roy Hodgson’s men.

But the Holland international says the squad will continue to put maximum effort in and remains confident the results will then follow.

“If we are in our best shape, we win this game,” said Kuyt.

“But one thing I can say is that we worked really hard for it. Every day we are working really hard and it’s only a matter of time before we get there.

“Unfortunately it didn’t happen but we will change things. I’m sure it will come. We started very well and scored a goal that was a bit confusing for everyone. But after that, we just kept going. Unfortunately, we then conceded a penalty and that changed the game. They then scored their second from a great cross but then we just tried to get back in to it.

“We even had a couple of chances to win it. But, we didn’t have the luck with us.