Liverpool new boy Albert Riera knows the club's rise to the Barclays Premier League summit will bring growing pressure for the Anfield men.
Winger Riera, already a big hit after only 10 games following his £8million summer move from Espanyol, thinks Liverpool will become the scalp everyone wants.
Tottenham, reborn under new boss Harry Redknapp, will provide the next test at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Riera said: "We have to concentrate now even more, clubs will know that we are top and they will want to beat us even more.
"Before last weekend, everyone was talking about Chelsea and the fact that they were top of the league and unbeaten so far this season.
"But we are now in the same situation and under that sort of pressure. Maybe, though, people now know that we are a good team also and that we want to continue at the top of the league.
"But if this is to happen we know we have to keep on working hard in games and in training and doing the same things that have helped us get to the position we are in right now.
"We know it will be tough because the Premier League is very competitive and you have to work hard in every single game otherwise you can come unstuck."
Riera was only used as a late substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Portsmouth, having picked up a minor muscle injury against Chelsea last weekend.
But he is expected to return to the front line at Spurs, as are Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano and Robbie Keane, who were all rested on the bench in midweek.
Fernando Torres could also return after his hamstring injury, but Liverpool may well hold him back to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Riera said: "The win at Chelsea last weekend was a very big result, but it was only one result and the most important thing for us now is that we must build upon it.
"It was very important for us and for our confidence in ourselves but in football you can never afford to think that you have done enough, you always have to look ahead and try to keep on getting better.
"We are at a good moment but we cannot afford to stand still. And as for myself, I know I can still get better.
"The best way to progress is to believe that you can get better and give more to the team, and that is the way I am."
Boss Rafael Benitez wants his side to learn how to be leaders.
He said: "The expression in England I have learned is that we must keep our feet on the ground.
"That is the key for us from now on. We must learn to be patient, learn to handle the situation we are now in.
"The players know the position we are in, how to handle it is easy.
"Everyone must be calm, take their time in matches, with feet firmly on the ground."
Winger Riera, already a big hit after only 10 games following his £8million summer move from Espanyol, thinks Liverpool will become the scalp everyone wants.
Tottenham, reborn under new boss Harry Redknapp, will provide the next test at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Riera said: "We have to concentrate now even more, clubs will know that we are top and they will want to beat us even more.
"Before last weekend, everyone was talking about Chelsea and the fact that they were top of the league and unbeaten so far this season.
"But we are now in the same situation and under that sort of pressure. Maybe, though, people now know that we are a good team also and that we want to continue at the top of the league.
"But if this is to happen we know we have to keep on working hard in games and in training and doing the same things that have helped us get to the position we are in right now.
"We know it will be tough because the Premier League is very competitive and you have to work hard in every single game otherwise you can come unstuck."
Riera was only used as a late substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Portsmouth, having picked up a minor muscle injury against Chelsea last weekend.
But he is expected to return to the front line at Spurs, as are Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano and Robbie Keane, who were all rested on the bench in midweek.
Fernando Torres could also return after his hamstring injury, but Liverpool may well hold him back to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Riera said: "The win at Chelsea last weekend was a very big result, but it was only one result and the most important thing for us now is that we must build upon it.
"It was very important for us and for our confidence in ourselves but in football you can never afford to think that you have done enough, you always have to look ahead and try to keep on getting better.
"We are at a good moment but we cannot afford to stand still. And as for myself, I know I can still get better.
"The best way to progress is to believe that you can get better and give more to the team, and that is the way I am."
Boss Rafael Benitez wants his side to learn how to be leaders.
He said: "The expression in England I have learned is that we must keep our feet on the ground.
"That is the key for us from now on. We must learn to be patient, learn to handle the situation we are now in.
"The players know the position we are in, how to handle it is easy.
"Everyone must be calm, take their time in matches, with feet firmly on the ground."
No comments:
Post a Comment