Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on his side to become "ruthless" in their run of three games in six days.

The Merseyside club face Hull City, Norwich City and West Ham United within a week and Gerrard urged his teammates to take maximum points.

Gerrard insisted that the upcoming games are vital if Liverpool want to finish in the top four this season.

"We've got to try and take maximum points. They are games, on paper, that we should be winning," the 33-year-old told Liverpool's official website. "If we want to achieve at the end of the season what we set out to do, we've got to be ruthless.

"Every month is pivotal and every game is pivotal. But we play a lot of games in a short space of time and there are some really big tests - going away to City, Chelsea and Tottenham are going to be huge games.

"If we show the form that we showed in the second half of last season, then we'll finish in the top four."

Gerrard has made 14 appearances so far this season.