Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
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Gerrard calls for focus

27 Nov 2007 - 12:20:29

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on his team-mates to concentrate on matters on the pitch when the Reds play FC Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Liverpool desperately need to beat their Portuguese opponents if they are to reach the last 16 of the competition, but the build-up to the match has been marred by an ongoing argument between Rafa Benitez and the club's American owners - Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo: "It's important that the players keep their focus.

"We realise that there's stuff going on behind the scenes but, as a player, you've 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's 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."

Liverpool go into their penultimate Group A clash third behind Marseille and FC Porto, but buoyed by their 8-0 demolition of Besiktas in their previous game.