The focus at Anfield may be firmly on the holy grail of the title, but skipper Steven Gerrard revealed yesterday a burning European ambition.
The England midfielder rightly counts 2005's remarkable Champions League triumph as the greatest moment of his career so far, but he admitted that he is getting just a little weary of playing on that final.
Given the relative lack of success since, there is little else for Liverpool's longing fans to focus on, but Gerrard wants to offer a repeat as he looks to maintain the club's enviable European traditions.
This season's Champions League final will be held in Rome, the scene of possibly the Reds' greatest-ever night in Europe. And Gerrard says he will feel a fraud unless he can repeat the success of three years ago.
"Istanbul was my finest hour, and the club's too for a long time. But I've got a hunger to match Istanbul, if not beat it," Gerrard explained.
"I don't just want to milk that final. I'd have regrets if I didn't win anything else. I want to do even better."
Gerrard is stirred by Liverpool's history in Europe, and driven by the desire to add to the record books. "Liverpool belong in Europe," he said.
"Yes, you have to earn the right to be in it, but our history, the number of cups we've won in Europe, it's our stage and where we want to be."
"We see how successful the club have been. Players before our generation delivered, and fans expect the same of us today. We don't want to milk past success, we want to create new success."
Liverpool will progress to the knock out stage of the Champions League if they beat Marseille at Anfield tomorrow, but it is to the league that their supporters are looking for the next trophy.
It is almost 20 years since the last Anfield triumph, and there is now a real sense of expectation as the club remains at the head of the Premiership approaching the Christmas period.
And while Gerrard is excited by the prospect of challenging for the title, he knows - especially after the disappointment of drawing at home to Fulham at the weekend - that there is still a distance to go to fulfil that dream.
"I can understand why people are saying we are contenders.
We've gone down a couple of times by goals, we haven't given up, and we've managed to turn games around," he admitted.
"So now they're saying we've got title credentials. It's nice, but it raises expectations."
The England midfielder rightly counts 2005's remarkable Champions League triumph as the greatest moment of his career so far, but he admitted that he is getting just a little weary of playing on that final.
Given the relative lack of success since, there is little else for Liverpool's longing fans to focus on, but Gerrard wants to offer a repeat as he looks to maintain the club's enviable European traditions.
This season's Champions League final will be held in Rome, the scene of possibly the Reds' greatest-ever night in Europe. And Gerrard says he will feel a fraud unless he can repeat the success of three years ago.
"Istanbul was my finest hour, and the club's too for a long time. But I've got a hunger to match Istanbul, if not beat it," Gerrard explained.
"I don't just want to milk that final. I'd have regrets if I didn't win anything else. I want to do even better."
Gerrard is stirred by Liverpool's history in Europe, and driven by the desire to add to the record books. "Liverpool belong in Europe," he said.
"Yes, you have to earn the right to be in it, but our history, the number of cups we've won in Europe, it's our stage and where we want to be."
"We see how successful the club have been. Players before our generation delivered, and fans expect the same of us today. We don't want to milk past success, we want to create new success."
Liverpool will progress to the knock out stage of the Champions League if they beat Marseille at Anfield tomorrow, but it is to the league that their supporters are looking for the next trophy.
It is almost 20 years since the last Anfield triumph, and there is now a real sense of expectation as the club remains at the head of the Premiership approaching the Christmas period.
And while Gerrard is excited by the prospect of challenging for the title, he knows - especially after the disappointment of drawing at home to Fulham at the weekend - that there is still a distance to go to fulfil that dream.
"I can understand why people are saying we are contenders.
We've gone down a couple of times by goals, we haven't given up, and we've managed to turn games around," he admitted.
"So now they're saying we've got title credentials. It's nice, but it raises expectations."
No comments:
Post a Comment