Sami Hyypia calls for a united front to get Liverpool back into the top four

Feb 1 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

SAMI HYYPIA believes Liverpool must put on a united front to drag themselves back into the Premier League top four.

But the centre-back admits he is finding it “more difficult” to cope with the increased demands of covering for the injured Daniel Agger.

The Anfield outfit’s struggles in the Premier League were underlined on Wednesday when they were beaten 1-0 at West Ham United.

Liverpool haven’t won in five league games and Hyypia reckons the squad has to now pull together.

“It’s a group thing,” said the Finland international. “We need to re-group and as a team find a way out. We need to work even harder than we have been doing and then it will come.

“We have enough quality in the squad to win games and score goals, so it’s a matter of time before our form comes back. We had a very good period in November and December and we need to look at that and remember how we were playing.”

Liverpool’s lack of a killer instinct has been a significant contributory factor to their barren league run.

But with just two clean sheets in their last 12 games, Hyypia admits there must be an improvement in defence.

“We’ve conceded goals in games recently where the defending hasn’t been as solid as in the previous seasons Rafa Benitez has been here,” he said. “From that point of view we have things to do better. But it’s a team thing. Like when I talk about not taking chances, it’s not just about the strikers. As a group we have to get together and put things right. It’s not only the back four that defends.”

With Daniel Agger still struggling with the metatarsal injury that has sidelined him since September, Hyypia has once again been the regular centre-back partner to Jamie Carragher.

And at 34 years of age, the veteran – who has started all but six of the 30 games Agger has missed – admits the increased demands are taking their toll, although the arrival of new signing Martin Skrtel will ease the burden.

“The rotation has been talked about since the boss has been here but for me personally it’s been quite good,” said Hyypia. “Last season I played quite regularly but not every week. That suited me perfectly because I had time to recover from games and I could perform better as I was fresh.

“Maybe this year it’s been a bit more difficult for me because I’ve played as many games at this point of the year than I did in all of last season.

“I think Daniel’s injury is one thing that has affected the defending too because he is a quality player who really helps the team.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Barnsley at Anfield will take place on Saturday, February 16 with a 3pm kick-off. It will not be televised live.

Liverpool youngster Besian Idrizaj’s loan agreement with Crystal Palace has been cancelled with immediate effect, and the 20-year-old striker will instead spend the remainder of the season on loan at Oldham Athletic.