[lfc-news] Gerrard: Rafa will get us back to the top - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 26 Nov 2004
Rafa will get us back to the top
Exclusive Interview by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

WITH crippling injuries and money too tight to mention, Liverpool could
have done with a home banker this weekend.

Instead, the visit of Arsenal is as desirable as Janet Street-Porter
without make-up.

At least there was one shred of comfort within the debris of defeats to
Middlesbrough and Monaco.

Steven Gerrard's comeback has offered much-needed respite for the medical
staff. Visibly working his way back to full fitness and form, he should be
firing on all cylinders for the punishing holiday schedule.

With the leaders already forging too far ahead, Gerrard is no mood to see
Liverpool's Premiership expectations crushed before anyone has noticed the
Christmas lights are switched on.

"Given our situation, I think it would be easy for me to look at our
position now and say if we finish fourth that will be a good season," says
Gerrard.

"But I'm not the kind of person who will just give in and settle for that.
You won't hear me saying that's the best we can do.

"I've said from the start we've just got to take things game by game, but
if we were to get a result against Arsenal that could make a huge
difference to our season.

"We could take more confidence from that than any other result so far and
we'd be looking at the next fixtures a lot differently.

"Then we can start being a lot more positive about what we can achieve the
rest of the year. The way I'm looking at it is this is the perfect game for
us to transform our season."

Such bravado would be misplaced if it wasn't for the fact Gerrard has happy
memories of facing the Gunners.

The 2001 FA Cup final win is the obvious highlight, but the skipper recalls
with both pride and regret a stunning victory which at the time signalled a
future of prosperity for Liverpool.

"It's frustrating to think that it was four years ago when we were beating
Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield," says Gerrard.

"I can remember the game well. I scored early and we were convincing
winners on the day.

"All of us thought then we'd be challenging Arsenal every season after
that. We were getting better and we pushed them all the way for the title
two years ago.

"Since then they've just got better and better and we've struggled.

"All I know is under Rafa Benitez and his coaches we will definitely get to
their level again. It might not be this season and I don't know how long it
will take. Every manager needs time.

"But while he is at Liverpool, it will definitely happen. We will return to
that higher level.

"You have to have sympathy for the manager at the moment. He's been really
unlucky with injuries.

"But to be fair to him he's told us not to think about them and he's
exactly the same. He's not looking for excuses."

It's not often Liverpool go into a home match as anything but favourites,
but given the Gunners have lost just one of their last 53 Premiership
games, it will be something of a shock if there is a home win this weekend.

"Over the last two seasons I think we've been underdogs whenever we've
played them, home or away, so Sunday isn't any differ-ent," says Gerrard.

"They've so much quality, they're favourites against most sides. We know
things are difficult for us at the moment, but there's no point us being
weak-minded because then it will be worse for us.

"They say fortune favours the brave, so we've got to show some courage. You
either go hiding in a situation or you show a bit of character.

"It's difficult but we can't go missing. It's up to senior players like
myself, Jamie Carragher, Didi Hamann and Sami Hyypia to lead the way.

"We're the experienced ones and I know both personally and as a team we'll
be fighting our way through this."

For those still unconvinced by the skipper's optimism, Liverpool could be
helped by a mini-injury crisis at Highbury.

Thierry Henry, Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie were all declared
doubtful by the Gunners on their return from Holland.

"I wouldn't say it was a bad time to play them, Arsenal have had some
problems of their own," added Gerrard.

"Everyone is talking about it being a good time to face us, but maybe we're
playing them at a good time, too.

"They've not been playing as well in the last few games and they've had a
few draws.

"We've just to think: 'What have we got to lose?' I'm sure most people
think we're going to get beaten on Sunday.

"But if we can get about them and get the crowd behind us, we know we've
still got quality players who can cause them a lot of problems."


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