Kuyt confident Liverpool can last the course
Friday 09 January 2009
Dirk Kuyt has warned Liverpool's
title rivals that the Anfield team will get "better
and better'' as the race for Premier League top spot
hots up in the second half of the season.
The Holland forward was rested at the weekend for the
FA Cup third-round win at Preston, but is certain to
be recalled when the league leaders go to struggling
Stoke on Saturday evening.
That trip gives Liverpool the chance to gain some revenge
for one of their poorest performances of an improved
season, with Stoke managing a 0-0 draw at Anfield back
in September with an ultra-defensive display.
Liverpool are on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions,
and will not want to slip up at the Britannia Stadium
in the same way that Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham
have done during this campaign.
Kuyt said: "The important thing for us this season
is that we have had a better start than in previous
seasons.
"We've had some new players in the squad who have
made us better but the other players have all been together
for a few years now and because of that we are only
going to get better and better.''
Kuyt underlined how much the players want to erase
the memory of the dropped points against Stoke earlier
in the season.
He told Liverpool's website: "It is great to be
top of the league. We have had a good first half of
the season but there is still another really important
half to play.
"At the moment it is not necessary to talk about
the league title. You can talk as much as you want but
if you are not at the top at the end then it does not
matter. It is better just to keep focused and concentrated
on your next game.''
There is even an outside chance that Xabi Alonso could
have recovered from the foot injury which required seven
stitches after the Preston victory, however he is more
likely to return on January 19 for the first of the
two upcoming derby clashes with Everton.
Rafa Benitez said: "Xabi trained yesterday but
the problem is he had seven stitches so clearly it depends
if he can put boots on and kick the ball.
"For running and training he is okay but we have
to decide at the end of the week about his boots.
"If he can kick a ball he
could be available for Stoke but we will have to wait
and see."
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