Source: Daily_Mail
Watch out Arsenal! Gerrard says Reds are back in mood for top-four battle
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard feels Saturday's derby-day win over Everton will boost his side's chances of beating Arsenal and maintaining their Champions League status.[LNB]Dirk Kuyt's second-half goal handed Liverpool - who had Sotirious Kyrgiakos sent off in the first-half - an important 1-0 win over the Toffees which saw the Reds overtake Tottenham in the race for the final Champions League spot.[LNB]Rafa Benitez's men are now preparing themselves for another crunch clash against fellow top-four hopefuls Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday.[LNB] Get in: Steven Gerrard celebrates Liverpool's win over Everton[LNB]And Gerrard says the Reds now have the confidence to deepen the Gunners' recent woes.[LNB]He said: 'You always enjoy beating your local rivals but it was the way we did it that was really satisfying, particularly after losing a man after half an hour.[LNB]'I thought we showed fantastic character, a great attitude and I also thought we played some decent stuff at times. I thought it was a fully deserved win.[LNB]'You could see what it meant to everyone on the pitch at the end and it was the same again in the dressing room afterwards; everybody is still on a high.[LNB]'Now we have got to take that high into the next game. It's a tough one, Arsenal away always is. [LNB]'But we have used beating Everton as a platform in the past and we've got to do it again. We want to extend our run and go on to better things.[LNB] Vital: Dirk Kuyt heads home Liverpool's winner[LNB]'Everton have been on a good run and they are a fantastic side. We knew we would be under the cosh at times.[LNB]'But we showed fantastic togetherness, we fought for each other and there were a lot of tackles going in and that's why I am really proud of this team.'[LNB]He added: 'We know there is a long way to go and we want to make sure we are in the top four at the end of the season.[LNB]'It's performances like this that will get you in there. We have got to try and keep this run going, as we can't afford any slip-ups. There is pressure coming from Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa.[LNB]'There are a couple of very tough games coming up but if we can show what we have done in the last six games, I don't see why we can't maintain it.'[LNB] Marouane Chamakh shuns Liverpool approach with confession of desire to join ArsenalGRAHAM POLL: Martin Atkinson lets the Merseyside mayhem unfold as Liverpool and Everton raise red card countLiverpool 1 Everton 0: Relieved Rafa admits Moyes' men let Reds escape [LNB]
