Jumping at the chance to banish the blues

Dominic Fifield talks to Liverpool's central defender Sami Hyypiaabout the club's dismal form of late.

It says much for the fragile mood at Melwood these days that Sami Hyypia was still heaving his chair from beneath the table when the captain's instinctive rallying cry came. "These are very tough times," pronounced the Finn as he lowered himself gingerly into his seat. "We are hurting. Now we have to be strong."

Mental fortitude is the mantra of the moment as Liverpool attempt to haul themselves out of a mid-season nosedive the like of which has not been known at Anfield in a generation. There may have been a breathless victory at Aston Villa in the League Cup on Wednesday but in the Premiership there has been one point from six games to leave a once-buoyant title challenge battered and bruised, a season laced with expectancy teetering on the brink. Everton, visitors from across Stanley Park tomorrow afternoon, will be all too keen to provide a neighbourly push in the wrong direction.

For Hyypia more than most, the league malaise has been hard to take. After three outstanding seasons marked by constant improvement since swapping the lesser lights of Willem II for European nights on Merseyside, the 29-year-old is suffering a rare slump in his own fortunes. The Finnish international has become a talismanic figure at Liverpool, the relentless progress he has made going hand in hand with the club's rebirth under Gerard Houllier. But last year's commanding presence appears momentarily riddled with self-doubt, a defensive colossus inexplicably shrunken and error-prone.

At Sunderland last Sunday Hyypia, mentally drained to the extent that he became physically ill, missed only his second league game in 27 months.

"It has affected me, and I do take the problems we've had recently very personally," he said. "I'm living with the team, captaining the team, so whatever happens to the team affects me. Every time we concede a goal I take it as a black mark against myself. I'm very self-critical - I'm supposed to prevent that from happening, but setting those standards has always been a way of staying focused and motivated.

"I can't say I'm happy with my performances but every person in life has bad periods. Everyone. That's only human. There is no particular reason why I'm suffering a dip: I'm not doing things or approaching things any differently, but then neither are the team. If any of us knew why we were struggling in the league we'd have corrected it by now. People have said that success came a bit too early for us, that if you're building a team, then two years is a short period in which to mould a side.

"Sure, the cup treble (in 2000-01) raised expectations but we all worked very hard for that success. Looking back, I'm happy we achieved what we did even if progress from there gets tougher and tougher.

"It's the pressure, the expectation that comes from playing for Liverpool. You can't afford to slip up here and I only really came to terms with that in my second season. The first year no one knew who I was but, because it all went so well, expectations were much higher for the second season. I'd forged my own reputation. Even so, it's not as if I can't handle the pressure. I still get nervous before every game, but that just shows I care."

Not than anyone's commitment within a like-minded Liverpool squad is in doubt, though all seem perplexed by their plummet. Six weeks ago, the club basked briefly in a seven-point lead at the top; now they languish five points adrift of Arsenal with a trio of other clubs between them and the summit.

That deficit is easily redeemable though, coupled with elimination from the Champions League, the relentless progress of the Houllier years has suffered its first prolonged setback.

Disquiet has been exacerbated by the injuries which have unsettled a back line that once set the tone. Markus Babbel, hauled off in midweek, has still to recapture the form he enjoyed before his long illness while Stephane Henchoz, Hyypia's soul-mate at the heart of the defence, has been hampered by ankle trouble with Djimi Traore filling the void in the centre. Add to that an off-colour John Arne Riise and the suddenly butterfingered Jerzy Dudek and last season's miserly rearguard is virtually unrecognisable.

"We had the best defensive record in the Premiership but the back four and goalkeeper were the same almost throughout the season," said Hyypia. "Little things affect the team's balance and can cost you a game. I've learned to think the same way as Stephane - it's instinct now. Djimi did a great job but he thinks differently in certain situations. In a game when you have to decide something in a split second, if you're not on the same wavelength as your defensive partner then you're asking for trouble."

Add in the frenzy of the most eagerly awaited Merseyside derby in years and communication breakdowns might abound. After the wreckage on Wearside, Liverpool's week of mournful introspection was illuminated briefly by success at Villa Park. Now the soul-searching is steeped in the hope that the occasion of a 167th Scouse spat could yet snap them out of their Premiership stupor.

The fact that life appears so rosy across the Park hardly helps. Other than in early-season spats, the last time Everton peered down on their bitter rivals was on April 25th, 1987 with their last championship virtually won.

Everton's precocious striking talent Wayne Rooney will be unchained against the old enemy for the first time tomorrow, if only from the bench, though Hyypia is undaunted.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him at close hand but when he comes up against me, he'll just be another striker to compete against," Hyypia deadpanned. "It's a mark of his class that he could play in the Premiership at 16 but it's not as if I'm waiting to play against him or anything. Everyone here has recognised the progress they've been making at Everton. They have a new steel about them and it'll be tough but, given what's happened recently, it's even more important we win."

- Guardian Service