Jose Enrique cannot understand lack of Liverpool goals

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique finds it difficult to comprehend why a team with "amazing" players up front has struggled so much in front of goal this season.

A return of just 37 goals in 32 league matches tells its own story of why the club have failed to make a challenge for the top four.

The likes of Fulham, West Brom and even tonight's opponents Blackburn, third from bottom of the table, have all scored more this season.

It is not for the want of trying, having hit the woodwork 28 times, but for some reason things have not clicked up front.

Liverpool's leading scorer Luis Suarez has been denied by the frame of the goal on eight occasions - the highest individual tally in the Premier League - and matches the number of league goals he has scored.

Of their other forwards, Craig Bellamy has six, Andy Carroll three, Dirk Kuyt two while Stewart Downing has yet to hit the target in the league.

On Saturday Suarez scored a late equaliser against Aston Villa but that game was another story of inspired goalkeeping and poor chance conversion.

"It is the same story. We had good chances to score and missed them and like many games we just have to win," said Enrique.

"We played some good football but got just a point.

"We have some amazing players up front and I don't know what has happened this season but we haven't had any luck in this respect."

Liverpool were denied a couple of penalties at the weekend, one of which was a foul on Suarez which went unpunished with the Uruguay international incorrectly booked later in the game for diving.

That provoked an angry response from manager Kenny Dalglish, who felt referees were being influenced by accusations the striker goes to ground too easily.

Enrique, however, insists they cannot rely on the officials to give them the decisions to win games and the players must take on the responsibility themselves.

"I am not a referee, I don't know about that," said the Spaniard when asked whether he felt Suarez had gained an unfair reputation.

"We know Luis is an amazing player for us and he is really important.

"He has not had much luck with goals this season.

"The referees are not our problem. I don't think we didn't win the Villa game because of this."

Tonight's match at Ewood Park is the last chance for the players to impress Dalglish ahead of a Wembley FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

But Enrique said they all had to focus on securing a first win in five matches having stopped a three match losing streak against Villa.

"We have to go to Blackburn, try to win and try to get confidence for the semi-final," he said.

PA