Bordeaux playmaker Johan Micoud is struggling with poor form and mounting criticism ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Liverpool.

Micoud scored on the opening day of the season but has done little since, with Bordeaux winning just five of 11 matches this season.

Much of the blame has been directed at Micoud, who joined in the off-season from Werder Bremen, where he recorded a league-high 14 assists in last season's Bundesliga.

Micoud, who has responded to heavy criticism by ignoring journalists at the club's training ground, has had limited scope to show his creativity because Bordeaux's style is more defensive than Bremen's.

``It's time to stop asking ourselves if the problem is Micoud,'' striker Jean-Claude Darcheville said. ``It's time to adapt ourselves and to start playing.''

However, five-time European champion Liverpool is also inconsistent.

Liverpool is level on points with PSV Eindhoven at the top of Group C but is 10th in the Premier League. Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Blackburn left the Reds eight points off leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.

Although Benitez's inspired coaching helped Liverpool overcome a 3-0 halftime defect to beat AC Milan in the 2005 final, his regular tinkering with formations and players has proved disruptive.

Bordeaux drew 0-0 at Galatasaray in the opening round of Group C matches and then lost 1-0 to visiting PSV with Micoud almost totally inconspicuous and Bordeaux hardly creating a chance.

With only one point, Bordeaux needs a win to beat Liverpool to have a realistic chance of qualification.

``Liverpool will be another game, a different organization,'' Bordeaux coach Ricardo said. ``I don't believe in changing things for the sake of it. But I like to have different options . . . whether playing a triangle or a diamond formation (in midfield), we will get it right against Liverpool.''

Bordeaux relies on a miserly defence and has scored only 10 goals this season. A 1-0 home win over Monaco on Saturday lifted Les Girondins into fifth place in the French league.

Darcheville and Marouane Chamakh will lead the attack, while Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy will likely link up front for Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard was set to make his 350th appearance for Liverpool, but the captain has been ruled out with a hamstring problem picked up against Blackburn.

``It's clear some of our more established players need to be at the top of their game,'' Benitez said. ``I said I thought it would be November before we were at our best because of a number of reasons.''