Drenthe was in the thick of the action in Saturday's 1-1 draw at QPR, firing home their opening goal before, five minutes later, conceding the free-kick from which their hosts equalised.

That brought some criticism of the Dutchman but Distin said the player's unpredictability needed to be embraced and not shackled.

"Some teams can get a bit too structured and tactical, while he brings a bit of fantasy and that is a good thing," he told evertontv.

"We know what he can bring to the team, he is a real free spirit."

Distin added in the Liverpool Echo: "He scored a fantastic goal and just needs to be a bit more disciplined.

"Maybe if he gets too disciplined, though, he could lose that little bit of craziness at the other end of the pitch - we've got to take him as he is.

"He's dangerous and you can't ask him to be dangerous, have that spark, and defend all the time.

"Every player is different and we all have our own strengths. You've got to play on it.

"Sometimes you try to change a player but he can't be perfect. That's his personality and altogether it's more beneficial than anything else so we're fine with it."

(reopens)

Midfielder Leon Osman believes the next fortnight could define their season.

They host Tottenham at the weekend before making the short trip across Stanley Park for the Merseyside derby.

Sunderland then visit in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup before Arsenal provide the opposition at Goodison Park for their fourth game in 12 days.

"They could be a huge couple of weeks," the fit-again midfielder, who made his comeback last weekend after a minor knee operation in January, told evertontv.

"It's certainly a tough run of games but one we've earned and deserved and we'll look forward to them and hope to get the results that we want.

"In the past we have tended to enjoy these runs and we like playing games in a short period of time.

"But we can't say we've done it in the past so it's going to happen this time.

"We've got to go out there and take each game individually on its own merits and put in the performances we have been in the last few weeks."