Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists the Reds will ‘beat most teams in the league’ if they can repeat their display at Manchester United on Sunday (Liverpool 2/1 – Top 4 Finish).
The Reds may have come away from Old Trafford with nothing to show for their efforts following the 3-2 defeat, but the England midfielder is confident progress is being made under boss Roy Hodgson, who was only appointed in the summer.
A big piece of Hodgson’s summer transfer dealings was keeping Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres out of the clutches of rival clubs, and the former Fulham chief was rewarded as Gerrard weighed in with a brace which included a penalty at the weekend.
Although naturally disappointed to go down at United, Gerrard was upbeat on Monday morning over the Merseysiders’ chances for the rest of the campaign.
He said: “It is going to take time before the new manager gets his feet in the door and gets his ideas over.
“We are improving and the performance yesterday was very good.
“If we play like that most weeks we will beat most teams in the league.”
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov’s first hat-trick for the club ultimately proved the difference between the two sides, but it still did not stop Gerrard from stressing what he thought were the positives.
“We kept the ball away from them and I thought we passed it really well; of course we had to be edgy in the first half because we were away from home,” said Gerrard.
“I thought second half we were much more positive and played some terrific stuff but you get nothing for that.
“When you go to places like that you have to create chances from your possession and score goals.
“We scored two but it was not enough.”
One of the main talking points post-match was the form of Berbatov after he stole the limelight with possibly his best game in a United shirt.
But talk also centred on the out-of-form Torres who has found himself accused of cheating following a tussle with United utility man John O’Shea which saw the Irishman booked.
Sir Alex Ferguson commented: “I have watched it again. Fernando Torres made a meal of it, an absolute meal of it. There is no doubt he tried to get the player sent off.”
United (11/2 – Carling Cup Outright) are back in action on Wednesday when they make the trip to Scunthorpe for a Carling Cup third-round clash while Liverpool (15/2) entertain Northampton.
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