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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he has been playing well below his best form this season.

Gerrard has struggled to hit the heights for much of the season and his under-whelming performances have been reflected in Liverpool's spluttering campaign.

The Reds failed to reach the Champions League knock-out stages and never threatened to make a run for the Premier League title.

Now Rafa Benitez's side face a major battle just to finish fourth and claim a place in next season's Champions League.

But Gerrard insists he still has plenty to play for as he tries to rediscover his peak form.

The England midfielder wants to win the Europa League with Liverpool - his side face Benfica in the last eight - and then go on to enjoy a success World Cup in South Africa later this year.

"I think it can be better, if you look at my form through the season as a whole I am not totally happy, I have not reached the level I would like to be at," he told Sky Sports News.

"It is not worrying me as I still have confidence that it can switch and turn at any given time to where I would want it to be at any given time, I have played well this season but I have come out of games when I have not been totally happy.

"I am my own worst critic. I know myself when it is good and when it needs to be stepped up and the challenge for me now in the remaining games is to step up and drive Liverpool into fourth, try to go to the Europa League final and go to the World Cup."

Gerrard, now England vice-captain, believes Fabio Capello's men will travel to South Africa as strong contenders for the World Cup, but he admits the team still need to improve to win the trophy for the first time since 1966.

"Time will tell, we are in a good situation - we are winning and confidence is high but we have learning to do and some improving to do if we are to go all the way," he said.

"You need that bit of luck to keep players fit and the squad healthy - so we are in a good situation at this time but there is still a long way to the World Cup, a lot can happen.

"I believe with this manager in charge the key time will be when we meet up, and up to the first game - when we basically will be living together, training maybe twice a day, and we can learn a lot from each other.

"Hopefully by the time the first game comes around every individual will be well drilled and know what we need to do to get out of the group as that is the first challenge."