Liverpool Striker Dirk Kuyt Admits To Feeling Under Pressure To Perform

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt admits that he feels under pressure to carry his side’s fortunes in the absence of his injured team-mates.

The Anfield club have been without key men Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson for large parts of their troubled campaign, and as one of the senior players, the onus has been on Kuyt to perform in their absence.

"Of course you feel a responsibility," he told a press conference ahead of Saturday’s derby against rivals Everton.

"Everyone in the team feels a responsibility and it is very hard when you are missing your best players. We have missed Torres for a while, Stevie [Gerrard] couldn't play every game and Glen Johnson has a bad injury, it makes it very difficult.

"Any other team, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, would struggle as well, but you can't think about this.

"You have to try to do it with the players who are fit at the moment.

"What we have done really well is keep working hard. We have been a bit unlucky with a couple of injuries, but the players are coming back and we are getting stronger and stronger. Once they are back we will all learn that it makes us stronger.

"Things are definitely changing, but we can't relax. We have to look forward and get the goals in."

Liverpool enter Saturday’s game on a six-match unbeaten run - both in the league and against their Merseyside rivals.

Should Kuyt score it would be his 50th for the Anfield club, and Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee admitted he would welcome any goal which secures victory for the Reds.

"It would be nice for him to score in the derby and get his 50, but it would be nice for anyone to score," he said.

"It's good for us that we have got goals going in from different areas. We are without Fernando, which has been well documented, but the lads are working hard and we have got players like Dirk who can score."