Friday, January 29, 2010

Tommy Smith: Liverpool FC Players Must Feel Like Fans Too

Hard as it is to take positives from the Wolves game, I guess there were one or two.

You can’t dispute it was really disappointing not to get the three points after the Spurs victory. But at least we did not lose, kept a clean sheet and saw Steven Gerrard coming back.

My old mate Jimmy Case, co-commenting on BBC Radio Merseyside, seemed to be doing his best to look on the bright side. But it did all sound a bit flat.

The difference for me between the Spurs and Wolves game may well have been the venue. At Anfield last week, with the Liverpool fans in magnificent form, we were right at it.

I know the Liverpool supporters who travel away are always in superb voice – and were again on Tuesday – but obviously there were far more Wolves fans at Molineux and I just wonder if one or two of our players didn’t sense – and therefore show – the same energy and motivation as was on view against Tottenham at Anfield.

The more that Liverpool players, especially those who come from foreign countries and aren’t steeped in Anfield history, become fans of the club the better. If they feel it the way the supporters do, then I’m certain it will help.

To be fair, a good few Reds stars obviously do. Pepe Reina and Torres are just two examples of overseas players who seem to have become adopted Kopites, as well as top Liverpool players. But the more like them in our squad, the better.

Liverpool fans are the best and always play an incredible part in driving the team on. But every Liverpool player must find the self motivation to drive themselves on too – in every single game.

If in their hearts the players are fans too, it will help – whether on pulsating nights at Anfield – or on freezing ones in Wolverhampton.

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