John Arne Riise has warned Manchester United to beware the ‘TAG’ team that is wrestling Liverpool’s opponents into submission.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have netted 12 of the 18 goals Rafael Benitez’s have accrued since embarking on a seven-game winning streak.
The pairing have struck up a prolific understanding reminiscent of the Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton ‘SAS’ combination that fired Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995.
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday hoping to break Benitez’s United duck in the Premier League and strengthen their claims for a top-four finish.
And Norway left-back Riise, who is hopeful of regaining the left-back role at the weekend, reckons the form of Torres and Gerrard can help Benitez’s men secure a first league win over their bitter North West rivals in four years.
“Gerrard and Torres have a partnership like I’ve never seen before,” said Riise. “The two of them are in unbelievable form at the moment, both looking strong and both scoring goals.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised with the way Torres is playing because we knew he was a top striker, but sometimes it can take a while to settle in English football. He hasn’t needed time at all. I know for a fact that defenders hate to play against him because he’s so quick and so strong.
“United will definitely be worried about us because we’re the form side at the moment, but at the same time we have to respect them because they are a top side also.”
Liverpool’s encouraging run of form will be put to the test over the next three weeks. After Sunday’s game at United, Everton visit Anfield a week later for the Merseyside derby before three games in seven days against Arsenal in both the league and the Champions League.
And Riise admits: “These next couple of weeks are going to be unbelievable. We are playing top games against top teams but we are looking strong at the moment and so we can’t wait for the matches to come around.
“This is the sort of run of games you train for and work towards during the season. There’s still a lot to play for for us as we look to secure fourth place and keep going in the Champions League.
“We’ve closed the gap on the top teams of late but we still need three teams to mess up if we’re going to get back into the title race.
“For now I think we have to look to finish fourth and that’s why the derby next weekend is going to be so crucial.”
Riise believes Benitez must take his share of the credit for the manner in which Liverpool have suddenly hit a rich vein of winning form.
“It’s down to the manager and his rotation,” he said. “Because he changed the team around earlier in the season we’re now seeing the rewards of that.
“When you have so many competitions to play in it’s important to rotate and that’s why the manager did it. He cares about the players.
“Now we don’t have as many competitions to go for, that’s why you’re seeing virtually the same players and the same system from game to game.”
Jamie Carragher concurs with the view of his defensive colleague.
“The first three years the manager has been here we have been to three finals so hopefully there will be another one this season in Moscow,” said the centre-back.
“He gets a lot of criticism for it but you have to look at his record, not just here at Valencia too, it does prove successful.
“The manager takes a lot of criticism but over the last few weeks we haven’t been changing too much as there hasn’t been as many games.
“But with these five games coming up, plus the international game, I’m sure there might be a few changes.
“At this time of the season there are maybe a few tired legs and things just need freshening up every now and again.”
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have netted 12 of the 18 goals Rafael Benitez’s have accrued since embarking on a seven-game winning streak.
The pairing have struck up a prolific understanding reminiscent of the Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton ‘SAS’ combination that fired Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995.
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday hoping to break Benitez’s United duck in the Premier League and strengthen their claims for a top-four finish.
And Norway left-back Riise, who is hopeful of regaining the left-back role at the weekend, reckons the form of Torres and Gerrard can help Benitez’s men secure a first league win over their bitter North West rivals in four years.
“Gerrard and Torres have a partnership like I’ve never seen before,” said Riise. “The two of them are in unbelievable form at the moment, both looking strong and both scoring goals.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised with the way Torres is playing because we knew he was a top striker, but sometimes it can take a while to settle in English football. He hasn’t needed time at all. I know for a fact that defenders hate to play against him because he’s so quick and so strong.
“United will definitely be worried about us because we’re the form side at the moment, but at the same time we have to respect them because they are a top side also.”
Liverpool’s encouraging run of form will be put to the test over the next three weeks. After Sunday’s game at United, Everton visit Anfield a week later for the Merseyside derby before three games in seven days against Arsenal in both the league and the Champions League.
And Riise admits: “These next couple of weeks are going to be unbelievable. We are playing top games against top teams but we are looking strong at the moment and so we can’t wait for the matches to come around.
“This is the sort of run of games you train for and work towards during the season. There’s still a lot to play for for us as we look to secure fourth place and keep going in the Champions League.
“We’ve closed the gap on the top teams of late but we still need three teams to mess up if we’re going to get back into the title race.
“For now I think we have to look to finish fourth and that’s why the derby next weekend is going to be so crucial.”
Riise believes Benitez must take his share of the credit for the manner in which Liverpool have suddenly hit a rich vein of winning form.
“It’s down to the manager and his rotation,” he said. “Because he changed the team around earlier in the season we’re now seeing the rewards of that.
“When you have so many competitions to play in it’s important to rotate and that’s why the manager did it. He cares about the players.
“Now we don’t have as many competitions to go for, that’s why you’re seeing virtually the same players and the same system from game to game.”
Jamie Carragher concurs with the view of his defensive colleague.
“The first three years the manager has been here we have been to three finals so hopefully there will be another one this season in Moscow,” said the centre-back.
“He gets a lot of criticism for it but you have to look at his record, not just here at Valencia too, it does prove successful.
“The manager takes a lot of criticism but over the last few weeks we haven’t been changing too much as there hasn’t been as many games.
“But with these five games coming up, plus the international game, I’m sure there might be a few changes.
“At this time of the season there are maybe a few tired legs and things just need freshening up every now and again.”
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