Steven Gerrard: Liverpool have to turn draws into wins

Feb 12 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has called on his side to turn draws into wins to save their season.

Despite earning a creditable point at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Gerrard has admitted that he felt it was yet another occasion when his side should have won.

The point was Liverpool’s first away from home against any other members of the ‘big four’ since Benitez took over at Anfield three-and-a-half years ago, ending a sequence of nine consecutive defeats in such matches under the Spaniard’s stewardship.

However, it was also Liverpool’s 11th draw of the season, ensuring that Benitez’s side have shared the spoils on more occasions this term than any of their Premier League rivals.

With Liverpool having won just one of their last seven Premier League matches, a spell which now sees them level on points with Aston Villa and Manchester City and three points below neighbours Everton in the battle for the last Champions League qualification spot, Gerrard admits he wishes his team could have turned some of their draws into wins.

He said: “Our form has been very inconsistent of late, but the performance against Chelsea was very pleasing and something that we can now build on.

“A lack of consistency has been our problem this season, along with drawing games that we should have won. Coming to Stamford Bridge and getting a point is acceptable, but to draw certain games like we have at home this season, like against Aston Villa and Wigan, they are the most frustrating things.

“We’ve got mixed emotions. We’re happy about it went and how we performed over the whole game but slightly disappointed we didn’t get the three points.”

It was the second occasion this season that Liverpool have played Chelsea and come our from the game feeling they should have taken all three points.

In their first home game of the season in August, Liverpool drew 1-1 with the Londoners with Chelsea awarded a controversial penalty for Steve Finnan’s supposed foul on Florent Malouda.

Referee Rob Styles also failed to send off Chelsea’s Michael Essien despite appearing to show him two yellow cards and was subsequently dropped for the following weekend’s fixtures.

Gerrard said: “It’s frustrating that we’ve played Chelsea twice now in the league and been the better team, but haven’t been able to win either. When you control games like this away from home, it’s disappointing not to take maximum points. It would be a waste if we don’t kick on from this and keep on drawing games that we should be winning.

“This was a good result, not many teams go to Chelsea and get a point, so it’s a positive result to build on.”

Meanwhile, Inter coach Roberto Mancini is wary of Liverpool’s pressing game ahead of their Champions League clash at Anfield a week today.

Although Benitez’s side have been stuttering in the Premier League, they have reached two out of the last three Champions League finals, winning one and losing one against Inter’s neighbours Milan.

Mancini said: “Liverpool is a very tough team to play against. They are difficult opponents, that don’t give you many spaces. Liverpool have proved to be in good form.”