"Steve has climbed the first step on his return and that can be the most difficult but there is another flight of stairs ahead," said the Liverpool boss.
"This was his best performance since he was on England duty nearly two months ago.
"I told him that if he kept working and his attitude was right it would all come back naturally. There was no need to force it, and gradually he is coming back to his best.
"Steven trusts me and maybe my comments woke him up a bit. He knows what I said and I told him this was the time when he needed me."