Sammy Lee is confident Premier League leaders Liverpool will not start looking anxiously over their shoulders at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are beginning to close ominously on their North West rivals following their impressive 3-0 dismantling of Chelsea at the weekend.
United’s fine form has led some pundits to predict the title is already destined to remain at Old Trafford for a third successive season.
But Liverpool assistant manager Lee insists the Anfield outfit must just focus on their own performances rather than worry about what may happen or is being claimed elsewhere.
“A lot of pundits have said there’s only one team that can win the league – but I don’t buy into that, either,” said Lee. “You can’t rule teams out in January.
“We can’t keep looking over our shoulders. We have got to do what we have got to do.”
There was, though, little hiding the disappointment following Liverpool’s goalless draw on Stoke, which has allowed United to close the gap.
Lee said: “That is the measure of this team at the moment – that we go away from home and get a point in the Premier League and we are disappointed.
“We go for all three points, but we have to take the positives. The game did not transpire how we would have liked – we had control and we lost it.
“But the positives, for me, were that we got a point and we did not concede from the many, many set pieces that they had.”
Rafael Benitez underwent a third operation on his troublesome kidney stone complaint yesterday, but is expected to be able to attend this weekend’s Merseyside derby.
Benitez has mainly watched Liverpool from the directors’ box since his last operation in December.
And Lee reckons the Spaniard is eager to return to his hands-on role as soon as possible.
“It is a difficult time for him because all he wants to do is be out there on the training pitch with his players, but he is still buoyant,” said Lee.
“He has gone for the third operation, but we are hoping it won’t keep him out for too long – hopefully just a couple of days.”
Lee added: “All credit to Rafa for what he’s put in place. His attention to detail and organisation means that, if any one of us is missing, there won’t be a blip.”
Striker Fernando Torres, meanwhile, is eager to get the chance to sink Merseyside rivals Everton twice in a week.
Liverpool are next in Premier League action on Monday night, before their neighbours make the short journey across Stanley Park again in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Torres has hit three goals in two games against Everton, and after coming off the bench in recent matches as he regains full match fitness, the Spaniard has set his sights firmly on inflicting more derby misery.
“You can feel the excitement of the fans the day before the game,” he said. “Before the last one I had people coming up to me telling me ‘you have to win, you have to win’ and ‘you have to score’.
“I had never scored a goal in a derby game before I came to this country so to get three in two games against Everton and to win both of them is fantastic.
“I hope to play against Everton again this time and I hope to be able to score again.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are beginning to close ominously on their North West rivals following their impressive 3-0 dismantling of Chelsea at the weekend.
United’s fine form has led some pundits to predict the title is already destined to remain at Old Trafford for a third successive season.
But Liverpool assistant manager Lee insists the Anfield outfit must just focus on their own performances rather than worry about what may happen or is being claimed elsewhere.
“A lot of pundits have said there’s only one team that can win the league – but I don’t buy into that, either,” said Lee. “You can’t rule teams out in January.
“We can’t keep looking over our shoulders. We have got to do what we have got to do.”
There was, though, little hiding the disappointment following Liverpool’s goalless draw on Stoke, which has allowed United to close the gap.
Lee said: “That is the measure of this team at the moment – that we go away from home and get a point in the Premier League and we are disappointed.
“We go for all three points, but we have to take the positives. The game did not transpire how we would have liked – we had control and we lost it.
“But the positives, for me, were that we got a point and we did not concede from the many, many set pieces that they had.”
Rafael Benitez underwent a third operation on his troublesome kidney stone complaint yesterday, but is expected to be able to attend this weekend’s Merseyside derby.
Benitez has mainly watched Liverpool from the directors’ box since his last operation in December.
And Lee reckons the Spaniard is eager to return to his hands-on role as soon as possible.
“It is a difficult time for him because all he wants to do is be out there on the training pitch with his players, but he is still buoyant,” said Lee.
“He has gone for the third operation, but we are hoping it won’t keep him out for too long – hopefully just a couple of days.”
Lee added: “All credit to Rafa for what he’s put in place. His attention to detail and organisation means that, if any one of us is missing, there won’t be a blip.”
Striker Fernando Torres, meanwhile, is eager to get the chance to sink Merseyside rivals Everton twice in a week.
Liverpool are next in Premier League action on Monday night, before their neighbours make the short journey across Stanley Park again in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Torres has hit three goals in two games against Everton, and after coming off the bench in recent matches as he regains full match fitness, the Spaniard has set his sights firmly on inflicting more derby misery.
“You can feel the excitement of the fans the day before the game,” he said. “Before the last one I had people coming up to me telling me ‘you have to win, you have to win’ and ‘you have to score’.
“I had never scored a goal in a derby game before I came to this country so to get three in two games against Everton and to win both of them is fantastic.
“I hope to play against Everton again this time and I hope to be able to score again.”
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