Rafael Benitez has hailed Dirk Kuyt as Liverpool’s “Mr. Duracell” and believes the Dutchman is enjoying the finest season of his Anfield career.
Kuyt has already equalled his best-ever tally of 14 goals for a campaign despite having been transformed from a striker into an attacking right-winger.
The 28-year-old, who arrived from Feyenoord in August 2006, has long been a favourite of both Benitez and supporters for his tireless non-stop effort no matter where he is selected to play.
And the Anfield manager believes that work ethic and versatility have made Kuyt an integral part of Liverpool’s prolonged championship challenge.
“Mr. Duracell is a good description for him because of the way he plays, he is always running and always on the go,” said Benitez.
“But when we signed him we knew he was this type of player – he had been doing that for years.
“This year maybe he is doing so much better because the team has been doing well too.
“He’s done really well creating things, but also scoring a lot of goals as well.
“Over my career I have had some very good players in terms of the running they do and the difference now is we have a squad with lots of those types.
“But it’s always good when you have someone like Dirk, who has the mentality to realise how important that is for the team.”
Kuyt has appeared in all but four of Liverpool’s 53 games this season with Benitez revealing the Dutchman is often one of the first names on his teamsheet.
“I was talking with one of his former team-mates in Holland and he said that Dirk had actually started as a right-back, before moving forward as a winger with Feyenoord and the national team,” said the Spaniard.
“So we have always known that he can play in a lot of different positions – either wing, as a second striker, up front. And he’s done well in all of them too.
“And because you can use him in so many different ways, you can pretty much guarantee he will be in the starting line-up.”
Kuyt has also provided a number of assists from the right flank, the latest of which created Ryan Babel’s late strike in the 3-0 win at West Ham United on Saturday.
And the Dutchman is refusing to give up on Liverpool’s quest for the Premier League title, despite Manchester United needing only four points from three games to regain the crown.
“The spirit and strength of the squad are really important because we know we have a lot of quality in this team,” said Kuyt.
“I thought it was a great performance against West Ham and it’s always more easy when you score an early goal. We know our target, which is just to win our games and then let’s see what happens.
“It was really nice for Ryan to come off the bench and score a goal. He has had to be patient but I was very happy for him.”
Meanwhile, West Ham’s Mark Noble hopes Steven Gerrard ends his career with a title winners’ medal -– because ‘he sets an example to every midfielder in the country’.
The 21-year-old asked Gerrard for his shirt after Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Upton Park on Saturday – and also collected Jamie Carragher’s jersey for pal Craig Bellamy.
Noble said: “He’s the best, isn’t he? Let’s put that straight. In my eyes, with the praise he does get, I still don’t think he gets enough. He’s obviously labelled one of the best in Europe but with the goals he scores, how he is for Liverpool, I’d say he is the best.
“He has stayed at his own club all these years. The really big teams are all interested in him but he pledged his future to Liverpool. For his sake, I hope one day he wins the title. For him and for Liverpool.”
And Noble says he is eager to one day get close to Gerrard’s high standards.
“Everyone wants to aspire to being that good,” he said. “He’s got a fantastic brain but he is also an athlete – he’s strong, powerful and quick. He’s got everything. If I can be nearly as good as Stevie Gerrard I’d be pleased.”
Nottingham Forest are in talks with Liverpool over signing Paul Anderson on a permanent basis.
The 20-year-old right-winger spent a successful season on loan at the Coca-Cola Championship outfit despite missing almost half of the season through injury.
Liverpool reserve Jack Hobbs joined Leicester City last month.
Kuyt has already equalled his best-ever tally of 14 goals for a campaign despite having been transformed from a striker into an attacking right-winger.
The 28-year-old, who arrived from Feyenoord in August 2006, has long been a favourite of both Benitez and supporters for his tireless non-stop effort no matter where he is selected to play.
And the Anfield manager believes that work ethic and versatility have made Kuyt an integral part of Liverpool’s prolonged championship challenge.
“Mr. Duracell is a good description for him because of the way he plays, he is always running and always on the go,” said Benitez.
“But when we signed him we knew he was this type of player – he had been doing that for years.
“This year maybe he is doing so much better because the team has been doing well too.
“He’s done really well creating things, but also scoring a lot of goals as well.
“Over my career I have had some very good players in terms of the running they do and the difference now is we have a squad with lots of those types.
“But it’s always good when you have someone like Dirk, who has the mentality to realise how important that is for the team.”
Kuyt has appeared in all but four of Liverpool’s 53 games this season with Benitez revealing the Dutchman is often one of the first names on his teamsheet.
“I was talking with one of his former team-mates in Holland and he said that Dirk had actually started as a right-back, before moving forward as a winger with Feyenoord and the national team,” said the Spaniard.
“So we have always known that he can play in a lot of different positions – either wing, as a second striker, up front. And he’s done well in all of them too.
“And because you can use him in so many different ways, you can pretty much guarantee he will be in the starting line-up.”
Kuyt has also provided a number of assists from the right flank, the latest of which created Ryan Babel’s late strike in the 3-0 win at West Ham United on Saturday.
And the Dutchman is refusing to give up on Liverpool’s quest for the Premier League title, despite Manchester United needing only four points from three games to regain the crown.
“The spirit and strength of the squad are really important because we know we have a lot of quality in this team,” said Kuyt.
“I thought it was a great performance against West Ham and it’s always more easy when you score an early goal. We know our target, which is just to win our games and then let’s see what happens.
“It was really nice for Ryan to come off the bench and score a goal. He has had to be patient but I was very happy for him.”
Meanwhile, West Ham’s Mark Noble hopes Steven Gerrard ends his career with a title winners’ medal -– because ‘he sets an example to every midfielder in the country’.
The 21-year-old asked Gerrard for his shirt after Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Upton Park on Saturday – and also collected Jamie Carragher’s jersey for pal Craig Bellamy.
Noble said: “He’s the best, isn’t he? Let’s put that straight. In my eyes, with the praise he does get, I still don’t think he gets enough. He’s obviously labelled one of the best in Europe but with the goals he scores, how he is for Liverpool, I’d say he is the best.
“He has stayed at his own club all these years. The really big teams are all interested in him but he pledged his future to Liverpool. For his sake, I hope one day he wins the title. For him and for Liverpool.”
And Noble says he is eager to one day get close to Gerrard’s high standards.
“Everyone wants to aspire to being that good,” he said. “He’s got a fantastic brain but he is also an athlete – he’s strong, powerful and quick. He’s got everything. If I can be nearly as good as Stevie Gerrard I’d be pleased.”
Nottingham Forest are in talks with Liverpool over signing Paul Anderson on a permanent basis.
The 20-year-old right-winger spent a successful season on loan at the Coca-Cola Championship outfit despite missing almost half of the season through injury.
Liverpool reserve Jack Hobbs joined Leicester City last month.
No comments:
Post a Comment