Source: Daily_Mail
Stewart Downing demands Liverpool maintain momentum
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing hopes the international break will not have affected the team's momentum as they head into a home clash with arch-rivals Manchester United. [LNB]The Reds bounced back from successive defeats - their first of the season - to beat Wolves and neighbours Everton. [LNB]But the victory over their Merseyside rivals was almost a fortnight ago now and with most players, including Downing, having been away with their national teams, the break may have done more harm than good. [LNB] Getting stuck in: Stewart Downing helped the Reds dump Everton last time out[LNB]The England international stressed the side have to pick up from where they left off, especially considering their impressive record at home to United having won the last three Anfield meetings. [LNB]'It's a tough game but we'll look forward to it and if we keep playing the way we are then we've got a chance of beating anyone,' said Downing. [LNB]'If we beat Manchester United we'll say the break did us good. If we don't people will point the finger and say the break killed us a bit.'[LNB] Manager Kenny Dalglish will lock horns with Sir Alex Ferguson again after their two clashes last season finished with one victory apiece. [LNB] National service: Downing was on England duty in Montenegro last week[LNB]United won the FA Cup third-round tie, just hours after Dalglish had replaced Roy Hodgson, but Liverpool maintained their Anfield winning streak with a 3-1 win courtesy of a Dirk Kuyt hat-trick. [LNB]The rivalry between the two Glaswegian managers dates back to the mid-1980s when Dalglish was Reds boss first time around. [LNB]However, the Liverpool manager was keen to point out there is nothing personal in his determination to beat United again. [LNB]'I'm not egotistical, I'm not in this to get one over anyone else,' he said. [LNB]'I don't have any individual contest with Fergie. This football club is more important than me and always will be. [LNB]'Head-to-head (against Ferguson)? I wouldn't have a clue what the score is in that and it doesn't really matter to me.'[LNB] Rampaging Gerrard can be Liverpool skipper for years, claims DalglishAyre shot 'is just stupid': Coyle blasts Liverpool chief in TV rowAll the Premier League team news ahead of the weekendIn the sick of it! Manchester United ace Rooney admits going to Liverpool made him illAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinionAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB]
