Source: SKY_Sports
Kuyt looks beyond Alonso exit
Dirk Kuyt insists Liverpool will 'fight on' following Xabi Alonso's £30million transfer to Real Madrid.
Spain international Alonso completed his move to the Bernabeu on Wednesday as he signed a five-year contract with the Primera Liga giants.
The departure of the influential midfielder has led some to question the Premier League title credentials of Liverpool, who are set to sign Roma's Alberto Aquilani as a replacement.
But while Kuyt recognises Alonso played an important role for the Reds, he insists the club can cope without his former team-mate.
The Dutch forward told Nettavisen after Wednesday's 2-0 friendly win over FC Lyn in Oslo: "Alonso has been great for Liverpool, but we will fight on."
Disappointing
Liverpool have suffered a disappointing pre-season and Kuyt recognises it was important to react to a recent 3-0 setback to Espanyol by defeating Lyn.
Rafa Benitez's team begin their league campaign at Tottenham on 16th August, a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1, and Kuyt is confident last season's runners-up will be in good shape.
"We are happy with the result after the defeat against Espanyol," he told Liverpool's official website. "It's always good to have another game come up quickly and we won 2-0.
"Maybe it could have been a little bit more but at the end of the day it was a clean sheet and a good performance.
Get over it
"Sometimes you lose to a team like Espanyol and you just have to get over it. There's still a week and a half to go until we play Spurs and that's the most important game for us.
"If we win against them then we've had a good pre-season - if we lose, we've had a bad pre-season."
Kuyt has captained Liverpool a couple of times in pre-season but, while he feels privileged, he acknowledges he is behind Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in rank of command.
"It means a lot to be captain of Liverpool," he said. "Obviously I know that Stevie is No.1 and we have Jamie as well.
"With so many changes in pre-season everyone needs to play and I've had the armband a couple of times - it's a great honour."
