Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Liverpool Striker Dirk Kuyt Looks For A Reds Fightback


Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt says the Reds must pick themselves up quickly after the 2-1 home defeat by Arsenal.

Although the Premier League title race looks out of reach (they trail leaders Chelsea by 13 points), the Reds are still targeting a top-four finish.

And, going into Wednesday night's home clash with Wigan, a five-point gap has opened behind Aston Villa in fourth.

"We want a top four finish so we must change things as quickly as possible," Kuyt told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"That's our target. If you play for Liverpool Football Club you always have to focus on the next game and there is a lot to play for."

Liverpool have now won just three times in 15 matches in all competitions following Sunday's luckless defeat.

Coming on top of their early exit from the Champions League, the Reds' continued poor run of results in the league has seen the pressure rise on manager Rafa Benitez and his players.

And Kuyt, who hit his sixth goal of the season on Sunday, is urging the rest of the squad that finished runners-up to Manchester United last season to keep their chins up.

"This is my fourth season here," said 29-year-old Kuyt. "And the first few seasons we were quite close to big trophies.

"Last season we were second and we were almost there.

"This season we all wanted to go for the league trophy.

"We are far away from that now. And we are really disappointed.

"But from tomorrow we have to focus on the next game and that's Wigan."

Kuyt scored twice in last season's corresponding game against Wigan, a 3-2 home win.

And he also bagged a brace against the Latics in a 2-0 win at Anfield in April 2007.

Wigan were beaten 3-0 on their first league visit to Liverpool in December 2005.

And they have only once taken points off Benitez's side at Anfield - two seasons ago in a 1-1 draw.

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