Liverpool Football Club News

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

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Rafa backs Gerrard attack

28 Feb 2008 - 14:10:39

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he understands and agrees with skipper Steven Gerrard, who has expressed his frustration at the Reds' failure to mount a title challenge.

Gerrard said that he felt gutted by the Anfield club's current position in the Premier League table and that even wining the Champions League would not make up for another frustrating campaign.

Benitez told the Daily Echo: "Everyone at Liverpool shares Steven's sentiments, there is no question about that.

"We wanted to be further up the table and the fact that we are not is a disappointment to everyone, but the important thing now is to concentrate on what we can still do.

"We are still in the Champions League and our record in that competition is one that most other clubs would envy.

"And we are still confident of finishing in the top four, which would obviously mean we would qualify for next season's Champions League."

Gerrard had told the club's official website: "You don't get any prizes in football for finishing in second place, never mind fourth.

"I don't think that the fans would accept fourth as an accomplishment and it's not nearly good enough.

"In the position we find ourselves now, fourth is the least that's acceptable. But we have bigger ambitions than that.

"The only way we can fulfill those ambitions is in the Champions League and I'm not going to pretend that even winning that trophy will make up for the disappointment of the league campaign."