[lfc-news] Skipper planning festive flourish - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 24 Dec 2004
Skipper planning festive flourish
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

THE prospect of facing West Brom away shouldn't fill Rafa Benitez's side
with fear on Boxing Day.

But, given Liverpool's poor away form, the trip to the Hawthorns isn't
as appetising as it should be.

While the Reds have been rampant at Anfield, losing just once and
drawing another in an impressive first half of the season, the contrast
on their travels is perplexing.

Only Fulham have been beaten on the road in the Premiership, and that
needed a stirring fightback when Liverpool trailed 2-0 at half-time.

Skipper Steven Gerrard is frustrated because he knows just three more
wins away from home would have taken Liverpool into Christmas as part of
the title race, not struggling to keep in touch with the top four.

He's confident the team's fortunes will transform in the New Year, but
acknowledges there can be no slip-ups at venues such as West Brom for
those ambitions to be realised.

"On paper we've got to be looking at getting six points out of six over
the next two games," said Gerrard..

"We know it won't be easy at West Brom but we've got to go there looking
to win and then picking up another three points against Southampton.
That would set us up nicely for the Chelsea game which is obviously
going to be another massive one.

"But we don't want to think too far ahead. We've got to make sure we
beat West Brom first and give ourselves a chance to catch the leaders."

When the sides met at Anfield earlier in the season, Liverpool's 3-0 win
set the tone for a series of impressive home fixtures.

At this stage 12 months ago the Reds had already lost four at home with
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and next Tuesday's opponents,
Southampton, leaving Merseyside with the honours.

There's been a reversal of fortune this year which makes the strange
away results harder to accept.

"We've been a lot more confident at home. We went into the season
wanting to turn Anfield into a fortress again and to a large extent I
think we've done that," says Gerrard..

"I know there's been a couple of hiccups, but you'd expect that in a
season. Overall we'd have settled for the points we've collected at home
at this stage of the season.

"I'm sure exactly what the statistics are in terms of points won, but I
know we've only lost one and drawn another. There ' s been a big
improvement at Anfield, not just in terms of results, but in terms of
the way we've dominated teams and played quality football.

"Why hasn't it happened away? I think you've just got to put it down to
self-belief and confidence.

"We've got that at home and our defence has been really solid which has
helped us dominate the teams that have come here.

"It's always a different game away. The opposition always have more
confidence and try to get at us more, and so far we just haven't
responded well enough.

"Scoring away from home is always more difficult, but the way we are
playing I'm sure we'll put it right."

West Brom are considered certainties for relegation, despite the recent
appointment of Bryan Robson.

Gerrard knows from experience how nothing should be taken for granted.
Last year's relegated teams, Leicester, Wolves and Leeds all took points
from Liverpool on their own territory.

"Our record against the top sides has been good but we've got to show
the same form against those at the other end of the table," he said..

"We've beaten Arsenal and when Chelsea come to our place we'll have no
fear. We know if we play like we did against Arsenal we can upset them
too. But if we haven't picked up maximum points against West Brom and
Southampton, it won't mean as much as it should."


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/