Dirk Kuyt today spoke of his immense pride at the prospect of matching Ian Rush's European Cup goals tally.
Kuyt is just two shy of Rush in Europe's premier club competition after taking his haul to 12 against Debrecen.
If the Dutchman draws level with his Welsh predecessor, only Steven Gerrard with 28 will have scored more Champions League goals for Liverpool.
"That is unbelievable," said Kuyt. "To have the chance maybe to draw level with someone like Ian Rush is unbelievable.
"He is one of the biggest names in the history of Liverpool Football Club and it would give me a great feeling if I could manage to do that.
"I have to be respectful of his achievements in his career, but it would be good to match his goals and then maybe continue scoring.
"It is nice to get personal things, but for me the most important thing is winning trophies. The milestones are nice, but if you don't have anything to go with them like a trophy then it is not the same.
"Don't get me wrong, individual honours are nice, but it is all about the team winning."
Remarkably, Kuyt didn't trouble the scoresheet on any of his first 10 Champions League games for Liverpool.
That sequence ended in the 2007 final, when the 29-year-old bagged a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan.
"I'm not sure why it has gone so well for me," said the Holland international. "In my first games in the Champions League I couldn't score at all. I got one in the final and it has just gone on for me since then.
"I think I have scored in every stage of the competition now and I am enjoying it. I just want to keep going. I don't try and do anything different to what I do in the Premier League.
"It is always nice to be involved in big Champions League nights and I feel confident going into them."
Kuyt is just two shy of Rush in Europe's premier club competition after taking his haul to 12 against Debrecen.
If the Dutchman draws level with his Welsh predecessor, only Steven Gerrard with 28 will have scored more Champions League goals for Liverpool.
"That is unbelievable," said Kuyt. "To have the chance maybe to draw level with someone like Ian Rush is unbelievable.
"He is one of the biggest names in the history of Liverpool Football Club and it would give me a great feeling if I could manage to do that.
"I have to be respectful of his achievements in his career, but it would be good to match his goals and then maybe continue scoring.
"It is nice to get personal things, but for me the most important thing is winning trophies. The milestones are nice, but if you don't have anything to go with them like a trophy then it is not the same.
"Don't get me wrong, individual honours are nice, but it is all about the team winning."
Remarkably, Kuyt didn't trouble the scoresheet on any of his first 10 Champions League games for Liverpool.
That sequence ended in the 2007 final, when the 29-year-old bagged a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan.
"I'm not sure why it has gone so well for me," said the Holland international. "In my first games in the Champions League I couldn't score at all. I got one in the final and it has just gone on for me since then.
"I think I have scored in every stage of the competition now and I am enjoying it. I just want to keep going. I don't try and do anything different to what I do in the Premier League.
"It is always nice to be involved in big Champions League nights and I feel confident going into them."
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