|
Gerrard: We've let Rafa down
03/11/2006 16:44 - (SA)
London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits a fierce desire to make amends for letting down Rafa Benitez is driving him out of his personal slump.
Gerrard believes Anfield boss Benitez is not to blame for Liverpool's unconvincing start to the season and insists the players must take the rap for the club's mid-table league position.
Liverpool finally began to hit form in the last week as they recorded three consecutive home wins to help ease the pain of a dismal defeat at arch rivals Manchester United that left them 11 points behind the Premiership leaders.
Gerrard has been criticised for some lacklustre displays himself but he was instrumental in those victories against Reading, Aston Villa and Bordeaux.
And the England midfielder is determined to carry on leading from the front when Reading return to Anfield in the Premiership on Saturday.
Gerrard admits he has been below his best this season and claims the World Cup played a major factor in his jaded performances.
"I've been missing something since the start of the season and I have not had that spark to my game. I think coming back from the World Cup has been a factor," he said.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, leaders Manchester United host the league's surprise team Portsmouth on Saturday.
Harry Redknapp's side will start the day in fourth place but United striker Wayne Rooney has set his sights on staying top of the pile for the foreseeable future.
Rooney, who ended his 10-game goal-drought with a hat-trick at Bolton last weekend, said: "It's much better when you are at the top and looking down on teams, we want to stay there for as long as we can and remain there until the end of the season.
"A lot of people talked about my form and lack of goals.
But, as long as the team wins that's the important thing. But, since the Wigan game, I think my performances have been good and I always knew the goals would come.
Champions Chelsea, currently behind United only on goal difference, face Tottenham on Sunday looking to extend their remarkable record against their London rivals.
Tottenham have not beaten Chelsea in the league since 1990 and Jose Mourinho's men will be desperate to maintain that run as they try to keep pace with United.
Also on Sunday Arsenal will try to improve their finishing and pile the pressure back on under-fire West Ham manager Alan Pardew.
Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas posted two contenders for misses of the season as Arsenal squandered a host of chances during a goalless Champions League draw against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger's side will try to reproduce the fluent play that carved open the Russians against a West Ham team whose win against Blackburn last weekend was their first since the opening day of the season.
At the bottom of the table Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder desperately needs a victory against fellow strugglers Sheffield United after a run of six league games without a win.
|
Rugby
