Liverpool Echo: The bigger the game the better

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

WRITES TOMMY SMITH

February is proving to be such an exciting month for Liverpool fans. After Spurs on Monday night and United today, important games come thick and fast.

Brighton in the FA Cup at Anfield under the floodlights next Sunday will be a smashing occasion - and then it's the Carling Cup Final at Wembley the following Sunday afternoon. Even when that's out the way and the month ends, there's the small matter of Arsenal at Anfield in the league for our first game in March.

Every match just now seems to be a real cracker - games to get supporters licking their lips. There's so much for everyone to play for, so much for the fans to look forward to as well. They fully deserve the thrill of the ride.

It's one of the biggest games in world football. And it's here again for the second time in a fortnight. Bring it on, I say.

It was terrific to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago but it's gone and counts for nothing today.

We'll need another top class performance from everyone to get the points and I don't see any reason why we can't.

Obviously United will be hurting after that FA Cup defeat at Anfield and with Rooney back from injury and that fightback against Chelsea under their belts, it won't be easy.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that United will be as wary of Liverpool as we are of them.

It's a shame we're not going into it on the back of victory over Spurs. I felt the lads gave all they had last Monday and in the end were the better of the two sides.

But there is no doubt we're letting ourselves down in front of goal and that's so frustrating when you see how solid the defence has been this season.

I think we've got to battle harder for space and possession inside the penalty box and make sure we concentrate 100 per cent when the chances come. Just because you're five or six yards from goal doesn't mean it's easy. We've got to focus far more on finishing clinically, because it may cost us the chance of a top four place right now.

That said the goals came at Wolves the other week and we managed a couple of crucial strikes against City and United at home, so it's not as if we're not capable. And with Suarez back and Carroll improving all the time, the threat is there.

More than anything, games like today's at Old Trafford are ones which players should enjoy. I always looked forward to facing United when I played. You just have to channel any tension you feel to your advantage and show no fear whatsoever.

The draw against Spurs was disappointing - but the form is still there. We can definitely get a result at United again today.

Source: Liverpool Echo

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.