Saturday, January 21, 2012

Reina Sets Priorities

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has urged his team-mates to put thoughts of cup showdowns with the two Manchester clubs to the back of their minds ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton.

The Reds are just 90 minutes away from their first final in six years - and a first visit to Wembley since 1996 - as they hold a 1-0 lead going into Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at home to Manchester City.

After that there is more knockout action when they host arch-rivals Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup in what is bound to be a heated affair in the wake of the Luis Suarez affair.

However, it is the club's Premier League form which needs addressing after just one win from their last five matches, which has included frustrating draws at home to Blackburn and Stoke and away at Wigan.

And while the lure of silverware is an obvious one for the players, Reina insists the focus has to be on arresting a slide which has seen them drop to seventh in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

"We know how huge it is to play a Carling Cup semi-final, second leg at home and everybody knows how big the tie against Manchester United is going to be," the Spanish goalkeeper told Liverpool's official website.

"It definitely won't be difficult to put those games to the back of our minds, because the first game is Bolton and is therefore the most important of all three.

"It is vital for us. We have to get some momentum going and keep winning games.

"It's important not to lose - but it's even bigger to win the games and get three points after three points."

Last weekend's goalless draw to Stoke - the seventh time they have been held at Anfield this season - was possibly the most disappointing performance of the campaign.

Liverpool has had problems with converting chances at home, but against the Potters they struggled to even create opportunities.

"It's always frustrating when you don't win at home, but that has been the case so many times this season and it is disappointing, because we want to win," added Reina.

Liverpool's away form has brought them more victories (five), but they have also lost four and scored only 10 goals in as many games, so even though relegation-threatened Bolton have been struggling, Reina knows there is no room for complacency.

"There is a lot at stake for them, but it is a great opportunity for us, because they need to win, so the game will be more open.

"Any team on its day is always going to give you a game, so we need to try to focus on ourselves. If we deliver and perform to our level, we should be okay."

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