KOP News # 1177

TIME TO SAVE OUR SEASON SAYS STEVEN GERRARD

 

Steven Gerrard said Saturday's outcome will determine how the club's season is viewed

Thursday May 3,2012

By Paul Joyce

STEVEN GERRARD has underlined the importance of Liverpool's FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea by admitting the outcome will determine how the club's season is viewed.

The Liverpool skipper did little to downplay the significance of the Wembley showpiece on Saturday, when Kenny Dalglish's side will seek to win their second piece of silverware of the campaign.

Gerrard lifted the Carling Cup in February, but has since seen hopes of pushing on to claim a top-four finish in the league disintegrate with a dreadful run of form which continued with the 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham on Tuesday.

That sequence of results has placed extra weight upon beating Chelsea, rejuvenated under Roberto Di Matteo, and Gerrard did not try to disguise that stark reality.

"This club are all about winning trophies, big trophies, and the FA Cup comes under that," said Gerrard.

This club are all about winning trophies, big trophies, and the FA Cup comes under that

Steven Gerrard

"We will assess the season after the weekend. If we can look back and say we have won two cups, then we will be happy.

"Silverware is success. That's why we play the game. Some of the biggest experiences we have had over the years is from winning cups – the European Cup, the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup, the Carling Cup. Those are the nights and days that you look back on with fond memories.

"The FA Cup is special, but we got a taste of success from winning the Carling Cup. That will help the younger players in the squad.

"Winning breeds confidence and you want more. That's what we want on Saturday."

Liverpool's cup exploits have been in stark contrast to their disappointing league form, which has left them eighth in the Premier League, having squandered 30 points at Anfield this term.

The midfielder believes the reasons behind their inconsistency need to be examined, but remains optimistic that there will be an improvement next season, especially if confidence is buoyed by more silverware.

"We need to address the problem of our league position," he said. "We hope it can kick-start us for next season. Winning big trophies breeds a lot of confidence and belief.

"We are all aware we have underachieved in the league and the squad of players is certainly better than where we are.

"We will assess the season and if we win two trophies it would alleviate the pressure slightly.

"People will judge us after Saturday. People will say, 'You haven't done well in the league'. But we can say, 'Yes, but we have won two cups'. That's a fair argument."

Dalglish has beaten Chelsea twice in the Premier League since returning to Liverpool as manager and employed three centre-backs in the two wins at Stamford Bridge. It is an option for him again at Wembley, which would allow Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher to all feature.

Carragher is also adamant that winning trophies is the ultimate gauge of success but, as he prepares for a third visit to the national stadium since February, he knows Chelsea will be testing opponents.

"Winning the FA Cup is a big thing, without a doubt," said Carragher.

"We had gone six years without winning. In that time we had some great Champions League nights, but at the end of your career you want medals to look back on. If we win two of the three competitions we have been in, it would be a great season.

"I had a fear I'd never play at the ground for Liverpool. I never played at the old Wembley and played a few times for England at the new one, but playing for Liverpool in an FA Cup final is special. The FA Cup is a bigger stage than the Carling Cup final.

"It's a fantastic day to give the supporters something to shout about. The fans haven't had a lot of them in recent years.

"Roberto Di Matteo has come in and done a great job at Chelsea. They have great players and have had a great side for a long time. It will be a tough game. We have had some big battles with them over the years and they are on a great run of form.

"You have to take your hat off for what they achieved in Barcelona. But this is a different game. We respect Chelsea but we are desperate to win."'If we can say we have won two cups then

we will be happy'