Striker Dirk Kuyt admits Liverpool dare not take their foot off the gas in their hunt for a first Barclays Premier League title in 19 years.
The Dutchman also insists Rafael Benitez' side must not look upon a favourable run of fixtures before the New Year as in any way easy.
Liverpool's next seven league matches include only one against a top-four side - Arsenal away on December 21 - and only one other against a team currently in the top nine, Hull at home on December 13.
The rest are against 10th-placed Fulham, on Saturday, West Ham, Blackburn, Bolton and Newcastle.
This run could be considered a golden opportunity to establish a genuine title-winning position with Liverpool's start to the campaign already their best for six years but Kuyt warned against complacency.
The Dutch frontman said: 'People say that we are facing a run of games that we should be capable of winning,' he said.
'But we know that we can beat the top sides and still lose to the clubs lower down.
'We do not want to look too far ahead, all the games are difficult.
'We have shown that by beating Manchester United and then drawing with Stoke in the next match. We beat Chelsea but then lost at Spurs soon after.
'We are aware it is really difficult every time in the Premier League, we must be right on top of our game for every match.'
Kuyt grabbed his seventh goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win at Bolton, where captain Steven Gerrard also took his tally to seven.
'We are still in touch at the top, but we just look to the next game and making sure we take the points,' added Kuyt.
'Every game is difficult and every team can make things hard for us.
'You only have to look at the teams who come to Anfield and then defend deep all game.
'That has happened several times, and I am sure that Fulham next weekend will do the same. That will be another difficult game.'
Kuyt had enjoyed a return to form having endured a testing time in last season after being shifted to an unfamiliar wide position on the right.
'I am still enjoying playing wide on the right, it means I am in the team. It is going well and we are winning games with this system,' he added.
'It does not matter to me whether I am playing on the right of midfield or up front. The most important thing is to win the games and score goals. it is going well.'
Midfielder Javier Mascherano, prior to joining up with the Argentina squad for their friendly with Scotland in Glasgow, underlined the determination at Anfield.
He said: 'All the players are giving everything for us and that is very important.
'This is why the team is playing so well at the moment, it is because of our teamwork which has been fantastic.'
But Benitez is still concerned by the amount of clear opportunities Liverpool are squandering, including four at the Reebok from Robbie Keane, Fernando Torres, Gerrard and Lucas Leiva that could have sealed the win earlier.
'At least we are creating chances; if you do not do that then you are worried,' said the Spaniard.
'But now we must improve our finishing. We are practising, but it depends on a lot of things you cannot control.
'Keeping ourselves up at the top is important for us, and for our fans who were not happy with the way we went out of the Carling Cup last week (to Tottenham).
'Now we have put that defeat behind us and kept ourselves in the race at the top.'
The Dutchman also insists Rafael Benitez' side must not look upon a favourable run of fixtures before the New Year as in any way easy.
Liverpool's next seven league matches include only one against a top-four side - Arsenal away on December 21 - and only one other against a team currently in the top nine, Hull at home on December 13.
The rest are against 10th-placed Fulham, on Saturday, West Ham, Blackburn, Bolton and Newcastle.
This run could be considered a golden opportunity to establish a genuine title-winning position with Liverpool's start to the campaign already their best for six years but Kuyt warned against complacency.
The Dutch frontman said: 'People say that we are facing a run of games that we should be capable of winning,' he said.
'But we know that we can beat the top sides and still lose to the clubs lower down.
'We do not want to look too far ahead, all the games are difficult.
'We have shown that by beating Manchester United and then drawing with Stoke in the next match. We beat Chelsea but then lost at Spurs soon after.
'We are aware it is really difficult every time in the Premier League, we must be right on top of our game for every match.'
Kuyt grabbed his seventh goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win at Bolton, where captain Steven Gerrard also took his tally to seven.
'We are still in touch at the top, but we just look to the next game and making sure we take the points,' added Kuyt.
'Every game is difficult and every team can make things hard for us.
'You only have to look at the teams who come to Anfield and then defend deep all game.
'That has happened several times, and I am sure that Fulham next weekend will do the same. That will be another difficult game.'
Kuyt had enjoyed a return to form having endured a testing time in last season after being shifted to an unfamiliar wide position on the right.
'I am still enjoying playing wide on the right, it means I am in the team. It is going well and we are winning games with this system,' he added.
'It does not matter to me whether I am playing on the right of midfield or up front. The most important thing is to win the games and score goals. it is going well.'
Midfielder Javier Mascherano, prior to joining up with the Argentina squad for their friendly with Scotland in Glasgow, underlined the determination at Anfield.
He said: 'All the players are giving everything for us and that is very important.
'This is why the team is playing so well at the moment, it is because of our teamwork which has been fantastic.'
But Benitez is still concerned by the amount of clear opportunities Liverpool are squandering, including four at the Reebok from Robbie Keane, Fernando Torres, Gerrard and Lucas Leiva that could have sealed the win earlier.
'At least we are creating chances; if you do not do that then you are worried,' said the Spaniard.
'But now we must improve our finishing. We are practising, but it depends on a lot of things you cannot control.
'Keeping ourselves up at the top is important for us, and for our fans who were not happy with the way we went out of the Carling Cup last week (to Tottenham).
'Now we have put that defeat behind us and kept ourselves in the race at the top.'
No comments:
Post a Comment