Thursday, October 25, 2012

Pascoe: No Derby Distraction

Liverpool assistant boss Colin Pascoe insists the players will not be distracted by the upcoming Merseyside derby as they prepare to face Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday.

The Reds will slip nine points behind Everton in the Premier League if they are beaten by their local rivals at Goodison Park on Sunday, but firstly they will try to get their Europa League campaign back on track.

Liverpool is third in Group A after the 3-2 defeat by Udinese in their last fixture and Pascoe says the Reds are focusing their efforts on toppling leaders Anzhi at Anfield.

"With the next game, it is always the same," Pascoe said. "The boys are looking forward to Anzhi.

"Everton against Liverpool is a massive game, but it hasn't been talked about and isn't being thought about at the moment.

"We are thinking just purely about the game on Thursday."

The Merseysiders will be without goalkeeper Jose Reina, who is struggling with a hamstring problem, and Pascoe admits it is touch and go whether he will be fit enough to face Everton.

"We are not quite sure at the moment," he said. "Hopefully not too long. He is doing his rehab at the moment and is working hard in training.

"So we will just have to assess him over the weekend and we will see then."

Brad Jones will deputize for Reina and admits the Reds will have to keep a close eye on Anzhi's former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.

"Obviously Eto'o is a fantastic player and has been for a number of years, playing at the top," he said.

"You know you are going to have to be on top of your game, but I have to do that every day with the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard anyway.

"It is just about making sure you concentrate and do the right things."

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