Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Pepe Reina Urges Liverpool To Repeat Portsmouth Performance Against Lille And Manchester United

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has urged his team-mates to produce a repeat performance of their display against Portsmouth in their next games against Lille and Manchester United as they aim to salvage their season.

The Merseysiders brushed Pompey aside at Anfield courtesy of a Fernando Torres brace as well as goals by Ryan Babel and a first in English football for Alberto Aquilani.

Speaking to ESPN after the game, the Spaniard paid tribute to Liverpool’s display, in particular the six minutes spell in the first half when the Reds scored three times.

“Monday night was a must-win game for us, fortunately we did it, we performed really well and let’s hope we can do it on Thursday [against Lille in the Europa League] again,” he said.

“When the team is playing well you know we can score at any minute. It was a good period of time, we were incredible what we have to do is make sure we repeat that on Thursday and Sunday.”

The shot-stopper also confessed that Liverpool have fully deserved the criticism that has come their way this season but insisted they remain a quality side.

“We deserved some criticism, obviously things aren’t going the way we want,” he added.

“We know that the squad is more or less the same as last season. We can perform, we can play good football, we have to prove it.”

Goalscorer Alberto Aquilani bagged the man of the match champagne, on a rare start for the Merseysiders, and admitted he was delighted to grab his first goal for the club, adding: “I am very happy today because we won the game. We need to win a lot of games to get in the top four and this is the first.”

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