Gerrard happy to be underdogs

Reds skipper hoping to silence doubters

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 28th January 2009

Steven Gerrard remains confident that Liverpool can upset the odds this season and take the Premier League title.

The Reds have not taken the top-flight crown for 19 years, but remain well placed to end that drought this term.

They
have surrendered top spot to arch-rivals Manchester United in recent
weeks, with precious points dropped in consecutive draws with Stoke and
Everton.

Some critics have begun to question whether Rafa
Benitez's side are capable of lasting the distance, with experienced
heads such as United, Chelsea and Arsenal expected to prevail in the
end.

Gerrard, though, has welcomed the underdog tag that has been
placed on the club and believes it will serve as an added incentive to
a squad desperate to bring domestic glory back to Merseyside.

Setbacks

"Are we out of the title race? No, we're not," the Reds skipper told the Liverpool Echo.

"If anything, the couple of setbacks we've had lately just make us even more determined to get back on track.

"We're
nobody's favourites for the Premier League title but we don't really
care. We're in the mix and that's where you want to be.

"We've got a great chance this season - probably the best in my time in the first team - and we believe in ourselves.

"There's
a lot of pressure that comes with being in our position but we think we
can cope with that. We're confident we can match United and Chelsea
stride for stride and then see what happens in the closing stages of
the campaign."

Liverpool suffer fresh setback, Chelsea secure second place

LONDON: Liverpool stuttered again
by conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Wigan Athletic while
Salomon Kalou’s second-half double against Middlesbrough moved Chelsea
up to second in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Liverpool
wasted the chance to go level on points with leaders Manchester United
after on-loan Egyptian striker Mido converted an 83rd-minute penalty on
his debut to earn Wigan a point at the JJB Stadium.

Ivory Coast
striker Kalou struck after 58 and 81 minutes to increase
Middlesbrough’s relegation worries at a rain-lashed Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea
have 48 points from 23 matches, two behind United who thrashed bottom
side West Bromwich Albion 5-0 on Tuesday and have played one game fewer
than their pursuers.

Liverpool also have 48 points but Rafael
Benitez’s side have drawn three successive matches and have picked up
11 points from a possible 21 over their last seven matches.

Spain
striker Fernando Torres hit the inside of the post with a glancing
header early on at Wigan but Liverpool were rewarded for their
first-half dominance four minutes before the break when Israeli Yossi
Benayoun latched on to a Javier Mascherano pass to score from a tight
angle.

But one goal was not enough to claim three points as
Mido, who moved from Middlesbrough last week, scored from the spot
after Lucas had brought down Jason Koumas.

The introduction of
striker Didier Drogba, again only handed a place on the bench by
manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, at the start of the second half provided
Chelsea with the attacking impetus to breakdown a resilient
Middlesbrough.

Drogba forced Chris Riggott into a rash challenge
that earned the defender a booking and soon after the London side broke
the deadlock when a corner was only half cleared and Kalou lashed in.

Chelsea’s second also came from a corner with an unmarked Kalou steering in Frank Lampard’s cross.

Fifth-placed
Arsenal’s fading title hopes suffered another blow despite Robin van
Persie rescuing a point with a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw at
Goodison Park against sixth-placed Everton.

“Our character
allowed us to get a point,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said after
van Persie’s goal cancelled out Tim Cahill’s fine header.

Britain’s
most expensive footballer Robinho, arrested earlier this week over
allegations of serious sexual assault, played his part in Manchester
City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

Brazil striker Robinho,
who has denied any wrongdoing or criminality, was given a warm
reception by City fans at Eastlands and it was his pass that set up
Shaun Wright-Phillips for a 17th-minute opener.

Wales striker
Craig Bellamy, who joined from West Ham United last week, marked his
debut with a second-half goal before Andy Carroll replied for
struggling Newcastle who remain just two points above the drop zone.

In other games, West Ham United beat Hull City 2-0 and Blackburn Rovers drew 2-2 at home with Bolton Wanderers. — Reuters

Benitez mahu anak didik segera bangkit

KAPTEN Liverpool, Steven Gerrard (kiri) cuba melepasi kawalan pemain Wigan, Emmerson Boyce dalam saingan EPL di Stadium JJB, kelmarin. Perlawanan berkesudahan seri 1-1.

WIGAN: Rafa Benitez mengakui betapa Liverpool kini perlu segera bangkit selepas berdepan dengan satu lagi kejutan dalam pemburuan mereka meraih gelaran Liga Perdana Inggeris.

Selepas menginjak Januari di tangga teratas liga, Liverpool kini mendapati mereka tercicir dua mata daripada Manchester United yang masih mempunyai baki satu perlawanan selain mempunyai kelebihan jaringan, selepas Liverpool sekadar seri 1-1 dengan Wigan, kelmarin.

Hanya tujuh minit yang memisahkan Liverpool daripada mengumpul mata sama dengan United selepas mereka berada di depan menerusi jaringan Yossi Benayoun pada separuh masa pertama.

Namun, penyerang Wigan dari Mesir, Mido menjaringkan penalti pada lewat saingan, menyaksikan Benitez terpaksa kembali mentelaah kegagalan mereka mempertahankan kemenangan.

Kekecewaan melepaskan dua mata berharga di Stadium JJB menambah lagi rentetan keputusan perlawanan yang mengecewakan. Pesaing memburu kejuaraan liga, Chelsea akan bertandang ke Anfield, Ahad ini dan Benitez sedar pemainnya perlu bermain dengan lebih baik selepas terpaksa menerima keputusan seri ketujuh dalam 10 perlawanan liga.

“Apabila anda berada di puncak, anda perlu sedar setiap perlawanan adalah penting,” kata Benitez yang jelas kecewa.

“Perlawanan pada Ahad ini amat penting bagi kami. Kami tahu perlu bermain lebih baik.”

Benitez jelas tidak senang terhadap hakikat pemainnya tidak ditawarkan lebih banyak perlindungan daripada pegawai perlawanan yang keras dan tegang kelmarin.

“Separuh masa kedua begitu menggila,” katanya. “Memang gila.”

Bagaimanapun, jurulatih Sepanyol itu enggan mengulas lanjut kenyataan itu tetapi mengakui pasukannya gagal mempertahankan kedudukan di depan dan hakikat itu memang membimbangkan.

Perlawanan kelmarin menjadi dua saingan liga berturut-turut yang menyaksikan mereka terpaksa menerima keputusan seri selepas berada di depan. - AFP

Benitez mula pening kepala

---

Benitez

WIGAN - Rafael Benitez (gambar) mengakui Liverpool perlu
memperbaiki prestasi mereka secepat mungkin selepas kelab itu mengalami
satu lagi tamparan dalam misi mengejar kejuaraan Liga Perdana England.

Selepas memulakan kempen tahun ini sebagai pendahulu liga, Liverpool
kini ketinggalan dua mata di belakang Manchester United selepas sekadar
mencatat keputu- san seri 1-1 dengan Wigan kelmarin.

Lebih memeritkan lagi, skuad The Reds itu kini tercicir di tangga ketiga liga, ketinggalan di belakang Chelsea menerusi perbezaan jari- ngan.

Pada aksi di Stadium JJB kelmarin, Liverpool berpeluang meraih tiga
mata penuh selepas mendahului pada minit ke-41 menerusi jaringan Yossi
Benayoun.

Begitupun, jaringan penalti penyerang Mesir, Mido tujuh minit
sebelum tamat permainan memusnahkan harapan Benitez untuk mengutip mata
penuh.

Menjelang pertemuan penting dengan pencabar utama, Chelsea di
Anfield Ahad ini, Benitez sedar pemainnya perlu meningkatkan lagi
permainan mereka selepas mencatat tujuh keputusan seri daripada 10
perlawanan.

"Apabila kamu berada di puncak liga, kamu sedar setiap perlawanan adalah penting," kata Benitez dengan nada kecewa.

"Ia satu perlawanan yang sangat penting bagi kami Ahad ini. Kami sedar kami perlu memperbaiki lagi corak permainan."

Benitez juga kurang gembira apabila melihat pemainnya tidak menerima perlindungan yang lebih daripada pegawai perlawanan.

"Aksi babak kedua sangat gila. Mereka (Wigan) bermain dengan kasar seperti orang gila," tambahnya. - AFP

Benitez questions Wigan's tactics

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insisted only a "crazy" second half
against Wigan prevented his side from rejoining Manchester United at
the top of the Premier League table, but also produced a thinly veiled
attack on Steve Bruce's tactics.

BarryCoombs/Empics

Rafael Benitez: Pressure is mounting

Liverpool
have now drawn seven of their last ten league games and have dropped to
third in the table behind Chelsea with Aston Villa within touching
distance too. The bookies share the doubts over their title credentials
as they have slipped to 8/1 to lift the trophy for the first time since
1990.

With many questioning Benitez's ability to last the course
following his infamous rant at Sir Alex Ferguson - they have not won a
match in any competition since then - his latest comments will have
done little to suggest otherwise.

Benitez bizarrely chose to replace inspriational skipper Steven Gerrard,
who specialises in crucial last-ditch goals, moments after Wigan
grabbed their late leveller and the Latics could have gone on to win
the game with new signing Hugo Rodallega smashing the bar with a superb
curling free-kick.

Benitez, who must pick his side up for a
crucial meeting with Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, said: "I am
disappointed with a number of things but no, the Wigan approach I will
not talk about them.

"It has happened in the last three games. They have something in common I don't like. I know why but I cannot say anything.

"The players were okay. They were working very hard in the first half but the second half changed because it was crazy.

"I was talking with my players about what to do on the pitch but there are things that you cannot control.

"When
you are top of the table you know that every single game is really
important so when you lose two points you have to be disappointed. But
we have an important game on Sunday and if we play like we played in
the first half we can beat anyone.

``All the games will be important until the end of the season. It depends on
the other teams too but we have to try to play well and try to win.

"We were much better in the first half. We had control of the game. We didn't
kill the game. The second half was a crazy game and when it is a crazy game you cannot
control things."

Rafa's Reds held again

WIGAN - LIVERPOOL'S title challenge suffered another setback on Wednesday as Wigan striker Mido hit a debut penalty to earn a 1-1 draw at the JJB Stadium.

Rafael Benitez's side looked set for their first Premier League win of 2009 when Yossi Benayoun fired them into a first half lead.

But Liverpool's old problems came back to haunt them as once again they failed to protect a lead.

With seven minutes remaining, Lucas Leiva needlessly fouled Wigan substiute Jason Koumas in the penalty area and Egyptian star Mido, who is on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season, sent Jose Reina the wrong way from the penalty.

Having started January on top of the table, Liverpool end it two points adrift of leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.

Liverpool had started brightly, Fernando Torres denied his first Premier League goal since October 5 when his glancing header from Steven Gerrard's 13th minute cross rebounded off the post.

Torres was proving a difficult opponent for Wigan's defence. Four minutes later he went close with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area as Liverpool stroked the ball around with confidence.

Wigan looked almost unrecognisable from their last outing in the top-tier 11 days earlier at Manchester City.

Steve Bruce's club have, surprisingly, proved one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window with Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios raking in a combined fee of 17.5 million pounds after moving to Aston Villa and Tottenham respectively.

Their departures has paved the way for a string of new arrivals at the JJB including Mido, who partnered international team mate Amr Zaki in attack.

Yet it was an unlikely source who came closest to troubling Liverpool in a first half of few chances as Emmerson Boyce was allowed a free header from close range which the defender failed to make the best of the opportunity.

Liverpool ended the half strongly, Ryan Babel dispatching a goal bound shot which was so fierce that Mike Pollitt was unable to hold on before Benayoun broke the deadlock in the 41st minute on his favourite Premier League ground.

Benayoun is not renowned for his scoring ability yet he fully deserved his second goal of the campaign after rounding Pollitt before finding the net from an accute angle following a defence-splitting pass by Javier Mascherano.

It was hardly surprising that he should breach the Wigan defence.

After all he did score Liverpool's winner in the corresponding fixture last season and also netted at the JJB Stadium during West Ham's 3-0 win over Wigan in 2007.

Liverpool's recent problems have stemmed from their inability to kill teams off which has forced them to concede pole position in the table.

They were guilty of it as recently as last week when they allowed Everton to equalise three minutes from time at Anfield having led the Merseyside derby for half an hour.

It was something that was clearly on their mind as they started the second half looking to put the game out of Wigan's reach.

Fabio Aurelio went close to doubling his side's advantage from a free -kick while Gerrard went even closer with a rasping effort in the 74th minute.

Yet Liverpool's old problems came back to haunt them in spectacular style as Mido sent Reina the wrong way from the penalty spot after Lucas had needlessly fouled substitute Koumas.

It could have been worse for Liverpool, debutant Hugo Rodallega hitting the bar in the dying seconds on his Wigan debut. -- AFP

Impian Liverpool semakin lenyap

LONDON: Impian Liverpool untuk memburu juara Liga Perdana Inggeris sejak 1990 semakin lenyap selepas hanya seri 1-1 dengan Wigan, awal pagi tadi.

Skuad bimbingan Rafael Benitez nyata tidak mampu menyaingi Wigan meskipun mendahului lawan, tetapi penalti pada lewat permainan menerusi penyerang Mesir, Mido menghampakan pasukan pelawat itu.

Malah, kemenangan Chelsea ke atas Middlesbrough 2-0 mengambil alih tempat Liverpool di tempat kedua dengan kelebihan perbezaan gol.

Bagaimanapun, Liverpool dan Chelsea seharusnya menerima hakikat bahawa kejuaraan liga kali ini adalah milik Manchester United (MU) selepas membelasah West Brom 5-0, semalam.

MU kini menjarakkan kedudukan dengan dua mata tetapi mempunyai kelebihan satu perlawanan berbaki.

Arsenal pula yang mahu memastikan tempat untuk Piala Juara-Juara Eropah musim depan agak terencat apabila hanya seri 1-1 dengan Everton.

The Gunners seharusnya berterima kasih dengan jaringan lewat Robin van Persie bagi menyamakan kedudukan selepas Everton mendahului menerusi Tim Cahill.

Gol Liverpool diperoleh menerusi Yossi Benayoun sebelum tamat separuh masa pertama.

Namun, selepas itu Wigan mengambil alih dengan mendominasi rentak permainan dan Liverpool pula gagal menggandakan serangan seolah-olah selesa dengan satu gol.

Mido, yang dipinjamkan dari Middlesbrough sehingga hujung musim ini, menjadi hero Wigan dengan mudah menewaskan Jose Reina.

“Kami mengawal permainan agak baik tapi kita tidak ada senjata untuk 'membunuh' lawan.

"Jika anda di kedudukan teratas liga dan perlu tahu setiap perlawanan itu sangat penting," kata Benitez yang hampa dengan persembahan anak buahnya. - AFP