Putting aside the set-back of being excluded from the Dutch national panel this week, Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has turned his attentions to next weekend’s vital Merseyside derby.
The Reds are currently two points clear of Everton, and a win at Anfield could see Liverpool afforded some breathing space in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot.
Kuyt, a scorer of two goals in this season’s other meeting at Goodison Park, believes that the current Everton squad deserve some reward for their impressive season. However, he feels that a fifth place finish would be more than adequate.
Liverpool need to exorcise the demons from last weeks’ mauling at the hands of Manchester United and the ex-Feyenoord man believes that the derby is the ideal scenario in which to do so.
With his side desperate to bounce back, claiming a victory over their local rivals would boost everyone involved with the club.
"It's an important game, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"The derby is always big, but this one is going to be really big. They want to be fourth as well but we're a couple of points ahead of them so we're in a good position.
"Everton deserve to be where they are at the moment but fifth will be okay for them this season! If we can win the game then it would be even better for us but we know it's going to be difficult.
"Everton have had a good season, they've got a really strong squad and they were unlucky the way they went out of Europe on penalties. But we've got the quality to beat them.
"We did it earlier in the season with a good win at Goodison. I've never scored two penalties in the same game before but that was a great day for me.
"The game means a lot to everyone, to the fans and to the players. The supporters tell us all during the week that we have to win the game and that's what we'll be looking to do."
The Reds are currently two points clear of Everton, and a win at Anfield could see Liverpool afforded some breathing space in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot.
Kuyt, a scorer of two goals in this season’s other meeting at Goodison Park, believes that the current Everton squad deserve some reward for their impressive season. However, he feels that a fifth place finish would be more than adequate.
Liverpool need to exorcise the demons from last weeks’ mauling at the hands of Manchester United and the ex-Feyenoord man believes that the derby is the ideal scenario in which to do so.
With his side desperate to bounce back, claiming a victory over their local rivals would boost everyone involved with the club.
"It's an important game, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"The derby is always big, but this one is going to be really big. They want to be fourth as well but we're a couple of points ahead of them so we're in a good position.
"Everton deserve to be where they are at the moment but fifth will be okay for them this season! If we can win the game then it would be even better for us but we know it's going to be difficult.
"Everton have had a good season, they've got a really strong squad and they were unlucky the way they went out of Europe on penalties. But we've got the quality to beat them.
"We did it earlier in the season with a good win at Goodison. I've never scored two penalties in the same game before but that was a great day for me.
"The game means a lot to everyone, to the fans and to the players. The supporters tell us all during the week that we have to win the game and that's what we'll be looking to do."
1 comment:
I can't see anything other than a comfortable win on Sunday after the disappointment of the defeat at OT. In my opinion, player for player, Everton can't compete with Liverpool and there are only a few Everton players (namely Yakubu and Arteta) who might get into the Liverpool side. That's not saying they're not capable of a win on Sunday but I expect a decent home win.
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