Thursday, August 27, 2009

Reina - Keep The Faith


Pepe Reina has urged fans to maintain their trust in Liverpool's ability to challenge for the Premier League title.

Monday's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa was their second league loss in three games, equalling the number of defeats they suffered last term.

The Reds have already slipped six points behind the early pace-setters, but the Spanish shot-stopper is refusing to press the panic button, saying the team remains strong and capable of challenging.

"The fans can trust us until the end because as a team we have always been strong," he told the club's official website.

"Obviously we are disappointed because it is not normal for us to play three games and lose two of them, but we have to look forward, try to improve and carry on with our title challenge.

"We are the same team as last season - the same team that won 86 points in the league.

"Nothing has changed except that some players have left and some have come in, but we are still a strong team.

"We have plenty of good players in the dressing room and we have to look forward because as soon as we win two or three games in a row things will change a lot."

Manchester United secured 90 points to win last season's Premier League title, but Reina does not believes this year's winners will need anywhere near that mark.

The former Barcelona keeper thinks 82 points could be enough to secure top spot this time around, but that it is too early in the campaign to start thinking about the finishing line.

"Teams like Villa, Tottenham and Man City will be involved in the title race and I think the eventual champions will probably win no more than 82 points this season," he continued.

"Tottenham are playing at a good level. They were probably better than us in the first game of the season, especially in the first half.

"But it is too early to speak about teams. We have to wait a little bit longer."

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