Bellamy Eyes Swans Statement

Craig Bellamy has called on Liverpool to demonstrate their top-four credentials by securing victory over Swansea City this weekend and extending their unbeaten run to eight matches in the process.

The Swans will journey to Anfield on Saturday having enjoyed an encouraging start to life in the top flight after securing promotion from the Championship last term.

However, Bellamy is eager for the Reds to return to winning ways on home soil following the 1-1 draw with Swansea's fellow Barclays Premier League new boys Norwich City a fortnight ago.

"It is important to keep the unbeaten run going, but with no disrespect to Swansea, if we have ambitions of finishing in the top four then we have to win these type of games," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We slipped up against Norwich, but on overall chances created and how we went about it, on any other given day we would have won quite comfortably.

"Credit to Norwich, they kept going because we didn't kill them off. If we can create the same number of chances against Swansea, then I feel we will that game.

"We have to look at it as trying to get three points because they are a promoted team and if we want to get into the top four, these are the games we have to try and win."

Swansea will come to Anfield sitting in 10th position in the table having enjoyed an enterprising start to the campaign.

"I'm not surprised because of the way they play and are as a football club," said Bellamy. "The Premier League suits them.

"They will play football at all costs - and they have done. They've tried to keep that idea and that momentum going. I think they will be very comfortable in the league this year.

"They're a good team and we'll have to be at the top of our game on Saturday. If we're not and we sit off, they'll pass it around us and it'll be a very uncomfortable afternoon."

Liverpool are currently in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

It was a sequence Bellamy himself kick-started when he opened the scoring during a Carling Cup tie at Brighton in September.

The striker admits it was a landmark moment on a personal level as it was his first goal for the Reds since securing a return to Anfield on transfer deadline day.

He said: "It was a big moment. It was Brighton and seven minutes in, and then I was lucky enough to follow it up in my next start with another goal at home to Norwich.

"We should have been a couple of goals up by that time, but to get a goal in front of the Kop is always an extra bonus."

Bellamy's first spell at Anfield yielded nine goals - including one in a historic 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Having signed from Blackburn Rovers in 2006, the Welsh international spent just a season at Liverpool before departing for West Ham United the following summer.

The 32-year-old admits he thought the chance to ever don the red jersey again had passed him by - but was left thrilled when Kenny Dalglish moved to snap him up from Manchester City earlier this summer.

In doing so, Bellamy fulfilled a lifelong goal - to play for the King of the Kop.

He said: "It was always an ambition to work with Kenny. Did I feel I was going to get this opportunity again? Probably not - but then Kenny would say the same as well. These things can happen in football.

"When he returned in charge in January, I got to see his team and it was so refreshing watching Liverpool.

"To watch Kenny come back and the football that's been played, for me it is exciting to be around - and that is something I'd expect from Liverpool Football Club."

He added: "It's been really good and I have enjoyed it. Training has been great. I'm lucky enough to have worked with Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen before at West Ham, and to be involved with them again is great.

"Training is intense, but it is always with a view to the opposition who we're going to play.

"Every day you come in and there is something different. There is a great atmosphere at the place - very relaxed but really with a goal of Champions League football. We have the players to do it and I feel this team will get stronger through the year as well."