Javier Mascherano will return to Liverpool's starting line-up this evening at Portsmouth demanding that the side forget their FA Cup woes and instead build on the impressive victory over Chelsea last weekend.
Liverpool's week has been transformed from one of delight to one of despair, having beaten Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday and then seen their unbeaten 16-match record ended by the extra-time defeat at Everton in the FA Cup fourth round.
Now Liverpool must raise themselves in the wake of Robbie Keane's departure, Steven Gerrard's three-week hamstring injury and Lucas' suspension after being sent off against Everton.
With doubts over whether Fernando Torres will start the match, and Xabi Alonso's ankle problem, boss Rafael Benitez could send out a much-changed side at Portsmouth that may include Fabio Aurelio in a midfield role.
But if Liverpool win at Fratton Park, they will be back on top of the Premier League before current leaders Manchester United play West Ham tomorrow.
Then Liverpool, by virtue of their cup exit, have a two-week break before their next game at home to Manchester City on February 22.
And Mascherano wants Liverpool to take full advantage of an away game against struggling Pompey.
He said: "We have played a lot of games lately but we soon have a two-week break so we need to make sure we concentrate on winning against Portsmouth.
"If we play like we did against Chelsea then we can beat anyone. We have to win at Portsmouth, although we know it will be a difficult game because they can be a good team.
"It is always difficult to play them away from home, because it will be a physical game with a lot of long balls to Peter Crouch.
"But we must counter that and play as well as we did against Chelsea, and then I am sure we will win. We know everyone is disappointed about the game at Everton but we need to remember we are still in a good position in the league and in a few weeks we will play Real Madrid in the Champions League. We've still a lot to play for."
Liverpool's defeat to Everton in midweek brought an end to an unbeaten run which had stretched back to the beginning of November, but Mascherano is confident the Reds will bounce back. The Argentina captain came on as substitute in the cup tie after Lucas had been sent off, and said: "It was very difficult to lose in the way we did at Everton. We played for 40 minutes with a man less and still came within a couple of minutes of going to penalties.
"But we cannot let our heads go down. We have to remember we are in a good position in the league and we want to stay there."
Liverpool's week has been transformed from one of delight to one of despair, having beaten Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday and then seen their unbeaten 16-match record ended by the extra-time defeat at Everton in the FA Cup fourth round.
Now Liverpool must raise themselves in the wake of Robbie Keane's departure, Steven Gerrard's three-week hamstring injury and Lucas' suspension after being sent off against Everton.
With doubts over whether Fernando Torres will start the match, and Xabi Alonso's ankle problem, boss Rafael Benitez could send out a much-changed side at Portsmouth that may include Fabio Aurelio in a midfield role.
But if Liverpool win at Fratton Park, they will be back on top of the Premier League before current leaders Manchester United play West Ham tomorrow.
Then Liverpool, by virtue of their cup exit, have a two-week break before their next game at home to Manchester City on February 22.
And Mascherano wants Liverpool to take full advantage of an away game against struggling Pompey.
He said: "We have played a lot of games lately but we soon have a two-week break so we need to make sure we concentrate on winning against Portsmouth.
"If we play like we did against Chelsea then we can beat anyone. We have to win at Portsmouth, although we know it will be a difficult game because they can be a good team.
"It is always difficult to play them away from home, because it will be a physical game with a lot of long balls to Peter Crouch.
"But we must counter that and play as well as we did against Chelsea, and then I am sure we will win. We know everyone is disappointed about the game at Everton but we need to remember we are still in a good position in the league and in a few weeks we will play Real Madrid in the Champions League. We've still a lot to play for."
Liverpool's defeat to Everton in midweek brought an end to an unbeaten run which had stretched back to the beginning of November, but Mascherano is confident the Reds will bounce back. The Argentina captain came on as substitute in the cup tie after Lucas had been sent off, and said: "It was very difficult to lose in the way we did at Everton. We played for 40 minutes with a man less and still came within a couple of minutes of going to penalties.
"But we cannot let our heads go down. We have to remember we are in a good position in the league and we want to stay there."
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