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Reds in mood to topple United
18/03/2008 16:58 - (SA)
Liverpool - Xabi Alonso believes Liverpool's seven-match winning run has given Fernando Torres the perfect platform to shoot down Manchester United's Premier league title defence at Old Trafford this weekend.
The Easter Sunday clash is looming as one of the key hurdles for Alex Ferguson's side in the title run-in and the Spanish midfielder is confident a Torres-inspired Liverpool can take revenge for the 1-0 defeat they suffered when United visited Anfield in December.
"We are in a good moment, playing well and scoring goals, and now we have to think of the next game against Man United," Alonso said.
"It is going to be a big game, playing at Old Trafford, we know their qualities but we are really looking forward to it."
Liverpool might have won their first meeting with United this season if Torres had managed to take the best of the chances they created.
The Spaniard is not missing much at the moment however and Alonso believes his compatriot's form means he could make the difference on Sunday.
"Fernando has improved," he said. "He is feeling really comfortable playing with his team mates at Liverpool and because of this he is getting better and better each day which is good news for the team.
"He has settled into the Premier League very quickly and that is encouraging because it can be difficult coming into a new league.
Enjoying his developing partnership
"He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important."
Alonso meanwhile is enjoying his developing partnership with Javier Mascherano at the base of a Liverpool midfield in which Steven Gerrard has been largely freed of defensive responsibilities.
"I enjoy working with Javier and the partnership is working really well at the moment," Alonso told the Liverpool Echo. "He has got great qualities - he holds his position really well, he is physically very strong when he comes up against another player and he plays well for the team."
United boss Alex Ferguson admits that Sunday's clash could be "pivotal" in the title race, but he insisted he was not looking beyond Wednesday's visit of relegation-threatened Bolton to Old Trafford.
"There are big games coming up and Liverpool is one of them, especially when you consider Chelsea are playing Arsenal on the same day," Ferguson said.
"But when you see what happened at Derby on Saturday, not taking our chances, you realise you can't take anything for granted. Sure, there are big weekends ahead, but the other matches are just as important."
United missed a string of chances against Derby before finally squeezing out a 1-0 win over the bottom side courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike.
And Ferguson admits that his forwards' recent profligacy is a source of concern.
"Some of our football recently has been terrific and there's good penetration in the team," he said. "It's encouraging that we're making so many chances - perhaps the forwards just need to relax a little in front of goal. Then the goals will come."
- AFP
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