Stewart Downing has claimed that he and his Liverpool teammates flourish under the high expectations that come with playing at the Anfield club.

The Reds have enjoyed a mixed campaign on the field, having excelled in the domestic cup competitions but struggled for consistency in the Premier League.

However, Downing believes that the season can be deemed a success and that part of that is down to how well Liverpool react to pressure situations.

"The expectations on you are to win and play well and the players here thrive on that pressure and it is starting to come together," he said.

"Players are starting to perform on a regular basis and I think performance-wise we've done very well.

"We have won the Carling Cup and are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. I think it has been a good season and I'm sure the manager is pleased with how it's gone."

Downing scored his first Liverpool goal in their 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Stoke City on Sunday.