With Daniel Sturridge fit again, Liverpool will have a focal point, a bundle of energy up front and a goal threat. Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Seven months ago Manuel Pellegrini, Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger guided teams to first, second and fourth place finishes in the Premier League.

And in the last two weeks all three men listened to calls for their head. "It makes no sense," said Pellegrini. And he's right.

Two weeks after being told he was not the answer, Pellegrini's Manchester City side have won five games in succession, qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League as well as cutting the gap between them and leaders Chelsea to three points.

If that is a sign of how quickly things can change in football then clearly the critics of Rodgers and Wenger haven't seen them. Wenger, the most successful manager in Arsenal's history, was disgracefully abused on a train platform last week by Arsenal supporters.

Yet he has guided them to the last 16 of the Champions League for an 15th straight season, seven months after winning the FA Cup. For a reminder of where Arsenal were before Wenger joined them, they finished fifth, twelfth, fourth and tenth.

Average.

Under Wenger, they have never once finished lower than fourth, never failed to qualify for the Champions League and have won the league three times, the FA Cup five times and have, on 10 occasions, finished runners-up in five different competitions, the League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

At Highbury, they used to unveil a banner stating: 'In Arsene we trust.'

Has the trust been eroded? You would hope not because this man has proven he has what it takes to build successful teams. He has done it before and can do it again. Similarly Rodgers has to be trusted to get it right.

I read what Stevie Nicol had to say in midweek and while I respect Stevie's opinion and accepted that everyone is entitled to have one, I disagree with it. Brendan not only needs time but deserves it.

Look not just at how Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew have turned things around at West Ham United and Newcastle United. Look also at how Brendan turned it around at Anfield.

They hadn't been in the Champions League since 2009 until he arrived.

He got them there. Deservedly they exited the tournament in midweek. They didn't do enough to go through.

But I'm convinced Brendan can get Liverpool back in the competition next season and here are the five things they need to do to turn their season around.

1: Stop Mentioning Luis Suarez

Luis has gone. He was superb for Liverpool when he was here but he is a Barcelona player now and for Liverpool to progress and regain their confidence, everyone has to rally behind the manager. What fans must also do is refrain from mentioning the fact they were a different team whenever Luis was in it. He's at a different club now and no one will move forward if they keep harking on about the past.

2: Players have to step up to the plate

The easy thing in modern-day football is to blame the manager when things go wrong. But come on. The game is played by players. Liverpool have made a huge number of new signings and while they need time to settle, they also need to realise how big a club this is.

Pressure exists every day of the week. And players have to grow into the shirt and grow as men. They can't shirk responsibility. They have to embrace the pressure and thrive on the back of it. Anyone who doesn't won't be lasting very long at Liverpool football club.

3: Return to attacking instincts

Last year, Liverpool frequently blew teams away in the first 15 minutes of matches. They burst from the traps and overwhelmed opponents with their relentless pressure and all-go tactics. This year they have played with way more caution. Compare the stats: this year Liverpool have scored just three times in the first 15 minutes of matches and have conceded four goals. Last season, they got 60 per cent of their goals in the first half, 12 of them coming in the first 15 minutes, 32 of them by the half-hour mark. This year, Liverpool have been more conservative. Go back to last year's tactics ASAP.

4: Be wary of a quick fix in January

It isn't as if January is a month when good players don't arrive. Daniel Sturridge was a January signing. So too Luis Suarez. Similarly, Nemanja Vidic joined Manchester United in the winter transfer window. So if the player is right and is available, Liverpool should go for him. But don't panic buy. Stick with what you have rather than spend money in the hope that he will come good.

5: Get Sturridge back

It is worth remembering that, between them, Sturridge, Suarez and Gerrard contributed 72 per cent of Liverpool's Premier League goals last season and 49 per cent of their assists. Suarez is gone and Sturridge has been injured, leaving Gerrard to carry the load on his shoulders this term. With Sturridge fit again, Liverpool will have a focal point, a bundle of energy up front and a goal threat. Confidence is a fickle thing in football and Liverpool are obviuusly lacking it at the moment. Sturridge's return can change that.

Neville was wrong to call us a pub team

The Dog and Duck. It's an easy thing to say. If teams aren't playing well, and right now, neither Manchester United nor Liverpool are at their strongest, they can get hit with criticism.

This week Gary Neville dished it out and while he is within his rights to have a go, he was wrong to refer to the clubs as pub teams.

I spent this week in Mumbai. There, as with so many other countries around the world, Liverpool and Manchester United are massive institutions.

These fans don't refer to Liverpool as the Dog and Duck. They know their history and know the standards that have to be met.

Right now, confidence is low and three big weeks are coming up. If Liverpool were to beat Manchester United and Arsenal in the league, and Bournemouth in the League Cup, then their season could kick on.

All of a sudden the narrative could change. Rather than talking about a disastrous year, we could be referring to a season of promise. Recently, United's season appears to have turned around.

They have won five games on the trot and appear to have Robin van Persie back on form. His presence combined with Daniel Sturridge's absence will be vital.

Irish Independent