Steven Gerrard wants repeat of Besiktas ruthless streak

Nov 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVEN GERRARD wants Liverpool to replicate the ruthless streak that blew Besiktas away when they take on Porto this evening.

The Anfield outfit racked up the highest-ever victory in Champions League history earlier this month when they thrashed the Turks 8-0.

Liverpool warmed up for tonight’s encounter by outplaying Newcastle United on Saturday to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.

Gerrard was on target in the 3-0 victory, which should have been greater with Rafael Benitez’s side missing a host of opportunities to score.

And the Liverpool skipper has warned his team-mates that such profligacy could prove costly tonight.

“I was more happy with the performance at Newcastle, it was very good – we controlled it from start to finish,” said Gerrard.

“But it is strange because I am a bit disappointed that we didn’t win it more convincingly.

“We had five or six other great chances where we have got to be a bit more ruthless because against better opposition you have to convert those chances into goals to win games.”

Gerrard will make his 16th consecutive start inside two months for club and country tonight. But while admitting to feeling the effects of his England exertions last week, the midfielder is happy to keep putting his body on the line.

“I will be honest with you and say my legs weren’t there 100% before the Newcastle game but I’d say it was probably one of my best performances of the season,” he said.

“I’m not complaining about starting all these games – it’s what I want to do. I will start complaining when I’m missing two or three consecutive games.”

Tonight’s game has threatened to be overshadowed by the ongoing crisis concerning manager Benitez and

Liverpool’s American owners.

However, the players ignored the possible distractions with their performance at St James’ Park on Saturday and Gerrard has urged his team-mates to retain that focus.

“It’s important that the players keep their focus,” he said. “We realise that there is stuff going on behind the scenes but as a player you have just got to blank that out.

“As players we get judged on results so it’s vital that we don’t get distracted from what is going on on the pitch and keep on winning.

“The match against Porto is crucial so we have to take our form into it and make sure we perform on the night.”

That message was echoed by goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who said: “We’re not distracted by what is going on. What else can we do? We are footballers. We don’t decide anything at that level.

“We have not been affected at all by what has been going on, it is not easy and not nice but all we can do is play football and show how good or bad we are on the pitch.

“We are under pressure to win this game because it is important, it is not a question of keeping our manager in a job.

“We do not understand what happens all the time, but what is clear is that our commitment for the club and the manager is really deep and all we want is to win games.

“I don’t know that the truth is, our information is what we read in the Press. But what is for sure is that Rafa is doing a brilliant job and has been for the last four years.

“He has been really successful and has been progressing the team. The most important thing for the supporters is to support the team.”