STEVEN GERRARD has blasted the “completely over the top” criticism of Fernando Torres while targeting the derby victory he believes could turn Liverpool’s season around.

And the Anfield skipper has also defended beleaguered manager Roy Hodgson and admits there should be collective responsibility for the team’s worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1953.

Torres has scored just once since Hodgson replaced Rafael Benitez in the summer as Liverpool have slumped into the relegation zone with just one win and six points from their first seven Premier League games and crashed out of the Carling Cup.

Many observers have been alarmed by a series of lacklustre performances from the forward with rumours persisting of continued interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.

But Gerrard said: “It’s all completely over the top.

“It’s easy to watch a football match and, if the centre-forward doesn’t score or pull a rabbit out of a hat, say his body language isn’t right.

“If a player’s form isn’t there or he’s fighting for full fitness after injuries it’s normal that their body language isn’t perfect. I’m the same. If I’m not playing at the levels I know I can, or if I’m struggling with an injury, people say the same things about me. The only time a centre forward’s body language is 100% right is when they’re scoring in every game, that’s the way they are.

“That’s why players like that are the best in the world, because if they come off the pitch without scoring or producing a nine out of 10 or 10 out of 10 performance they’re not happy. That’s what helps to make them so good.”