RAFA: WE'VE FOUND STEVIE'S BEST POSITION
Paul Hassall 06 April 2009
Rafael Benitez is confident Liverpool have finally found Steven Gerrard's best position.
The Reds boss has been impressed by the skipper's performances of late and feels the partnership he has formed playing just behind Fernando Torres is crucial to the team's hopes of success.

"Gerrard will stay in that position for us," he said.

"He is so good that he can play in different positions and if we need to change him for one specific game we can do that.

"But the team has balance with Gerrard and Torres in those positions and two midfield players behind.

"We are playing well, creating chances and scoring goals, so we don't need to change too much.

"When you have good players with quality and intelligence they can play together.

"Gerrard is very quick at passing the ball and Torres is very quick running into space.

"For the team it is the best combination and we always have to think about the team."

Last week Gerrard agreed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2013, giving Liverpool the perfect boost ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The Reds were knocked out by the Londoners at the semi-final stage last season, a defeat the Spanaird regards as an even bigger disappointment than the 2007 loss to AC Milan in Athens.

"It hurt more losing that tie to Chelsea than the final against Milan the year before," he said.

"I was disappointed in Athens because we played well, but we played a good team and in a final anything can happen.

"In the semi-final against Chelsea I felt we were much better than them in the first game and conceded an own goal at the end, which made a massive difference for the second game.

"We were really disappointed."

Should the Reds overcome Chelsea, they will be just two matches away from a third Champions League final under the Spaniard.

The Anfield boss admits it would cap a fine season to end it with another triumph on Europe's biggest stage and feels his side are hitting form at just the right time.

He added: "It would be a fantastic achievement to go on and win the trophy.

"We are now in a good moment."


source:offal

Voici un article du Daily Telegraph d'aujourd'hui J'espère qu'il pourra bientôt réaliser son rêve ! Je pense aussi que Rafa et les Reds en sont très proche. Ils vont y arriver ! La prochaine saison sera peut-être la bonne. Et là il n'y aura pas l'Euro pour perturber la préparation de l'équipe.

Steven Gerrard: Winning title at Liverpool means more than medals elsewhere
Steven Gerrard thinks back to the time he came incredibly close to leaving Liverpool, which so nearly resulted in a British record transfer deal to a rival club.

By Alan Smith
Last Updated: 10:46PM BST 01 May 2009

Four years on, Gerrard is convinced he made the right move, irrespective of whether Liverpool achieve the improbable by overtaking Manchester United to win the League this season.

Successful or not, that is not the main point. Gerrard is satisfied that his beloved team are heading in the right direction in closing the gap on those other heavyweights. In his book at least, Chelsea, United and Arsenal now face serious competition for several years to come.

"The reason the whole Chelsea thing came up was down to frustration that we were so far away from the title race," Gerrard explained this week. "That's why their interest maybe turned my head slightly. But I look back now and I'm really pleased I decided to stay because I am part of a top team here that can be successful."

A quick glance at the Premier League table tends to back up that argument. With only three weeks left, Rafael Benitez's side still stand a chance. Not a great one, admittedly, but it's more than enough to encourage their captain, brought up to follow only one team.

"It would mean an awful lot more to be successful at Liverpool than it would at any other club," he insists. "Don't get me wrong, I might have won more medals somewhere else but if I was to win the League here, along with a few more cups, that would mean a lot more than winning seven or eight trophies somewhere else. I can share it with my family, with the Liverpool supporters because I've been one of them all my life."

Yet such a strong allegiance inevitably creates heavy pressure. We are talking, after all, about a player unconditionally worshipped by every Kopite, right up there with Kenny Dalglish as an all-time hero.

Dalglish, however, was not a local lad. As a result, it was surely impossible to feel the same sense of responsibility, especially as he didn't have to answer to a huge network of Liverpool fanatics, forever in the background, through good times and bad. Gerrard does. The pressure levels, therefore, must be incredibly high.

"Yeah, every day I am captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world, where you are expected to win every single game," he confirms. "Sometimes that can get to you. Sometimes after a defeat, sitting on that bus, you feel as if you've got the world on your shoulders. Phone calls are coming in left, right and centre from family and friends who idolise Liverpool Football Club. If you haven't played well or feel slightly responsible for the result it can get on top of you.

"On the other hand, if you get on that bus and you've played well, scored a goal, maybe won a cup final and lifted a trophy above your head, then you're on top of the world. I've had those experiences playing in this team and I wouldn't change them for the world. The pressure is well worth it for moments like that."

Significantly, however, those moments arrived before Fernando Torres, and thus before Liverpool started profiting from a spectacular partnership. At times this season, most notably at Old Trafford in Liverpool's groundbreaking 4-1 victory in March, the Gerrard-Torres axis has proved irresistible. More than anything, it has made Liverpool look like serious contenders.

Gerrard sees similarities with a famous old team-mate, who returns to Anfield on Sunday with struggling Newcastle, although Michael Owen might start on the bench.

"You can go back to my days playing with Michael. It's very similar. I know Fernando's movements, his pace and his strengths. The way he is, he makes my job an awful lot easier. He deserves credit for being one of the best players in the world and the manager does, too, for spotting that and putting us together."

Unfortunately for Newcastle, this lethal double act should be reunited, now that Gerrard's sore groin, which kept him out of the last four games, has healed. What a relief for the red marauder, who, I can confirm, is not the calmest of souls when not involved. Watching the recent 4-4 thriller against Arsenal together in the Sky Sports studio, Gerrard was banging the glass, screaming for fouls. In other words, generally being himself – a rabid Liverpool fan.

That's why he can't quite bring himself to hope Manchester United overcome Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final, even though it might help Liverpool's cause.

"It's a difficult one because obviously I want them to be as busy as possible but I don't really want to be saying I want to see them in a European Cup Final!

"But I think the next two league games are crucial for us, in maybe getting another chance, because Man U have tough league games either side of their second leg. They've got to play Middlesbrough Saturday lunchtime, which might mean Sir Alex Ferguson makes a few changes. And then, after the second leg at the Emirates, I think they've got the derby against City. If they can come through those two games then it's basically all over, but if they make any kind of slip up it does give us hope."

Hope for a side Gerrard rates as the best he's ever played in at Liverpool. "I think we've got consistent performers throughout the team; world-class players in certain areas and also a lot more players stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility. There's a belief in the squad now when it comes to playing the big teams. A few years ago we might try and nick a 1-0 or grind out a draw. We've got the ability now to match those teams and win.

"People talk about the spine of this team and when you look at it – at people like Pepe Reina, Carra, Xabi and me – we've played together for about four years now. We know each other's games inside out. The manager, meanwhile, is trying to strengthen other areas of the side. We're very close to having a top team. Very close."

That's all Gerrard ever wanted when Chelsea came calling. And if this improvement leads to an overdue title win, the long wait will feel more than worthwhile.

Il a eu ses 29 ans hier.



Raison de plus pour gagner la PL 2009/2010, ce serait vraiment con qu'il gagne sa première PL à 34 ans...

Page last updated at 07:30 GMT, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 08:30 UK

Gerrard eyes signings like Torres
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard
Gerrard is bracing himself for a fresh challenge from Chelsea

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is eager for the club to sign players of "Fernando Torres' level" in order to win the Premier League title.

The 29-year-old believes that although Liverpool made progress last season in finishing runners up to Manchester United summer recruits are needed.

"We've finished the season without a trophy, which hurts," said Gerrard.

"How do we go to the next step? Get more players of Torres' level. He is a massive player for us."

The 25-year-old Spanish striker scored his 50th goal for the Reds on the final day of the league season and signed an improved contract with the Anfield outfit in May.

Torres also has 58 caps for his country and played a starring role when Spain won Euro 2008.

Gerrard, who believes Chelsea will be stronger next season after appointing Carlo Ancelotti as boss, insisted the title could head to Anfield for the first time since 1990 if manager Rafael Benitez is able to bring in the targets he wants.

606: DEBATE
I can't see us buying anyone until some of the fringe players such as Pennant, Voronin and Degan have gone

RedWidget (U11496196)

"We are getting really close to becoming champions. Our next two or three signings as far as we are concerned are crucial to push on and try and go one better than this year," he stated.

"If we can keep Torres fit and add a little bit more quality to our squad we can become champions.

"Manchester United won the league because they had that spark coming off the bench, that little bit more strength in depth."

Gerrard also backed his former Liverpool team-mate Michael Owen to rediscover his form and force his way back into the England squad.

Owen was part of the Newcastle squad relegated to the Championship in a disastrous season on Tyneside.

The 29-year-old scored 10 goals in 32 games for the Magpies throughout the campaign but did not hit the net in his final 12 games as Newcastle slumped.

Gerrard welcomes Ancelotti challenge

The striker is expected to move from St James' Park this summer and Gerrard believes his friend will come good again.

"I'm a big fan of Michael Owen, a good friend of his. I'd love to see him get a move from Newcastle to a big club and get his England career back on track," added Gerrard.

"I do believe he can play for England again. He has suffered a lot with injuries for the past couple of years but I believe a fit Michael Owen has got the ability to be involved in the squad.

"I'm sure he will be desperate to get back playing football again, staying fit and scoring goals. That is what he loves doing."
(BBC):http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8080374.stm

Grosse ITW de Gerrard réalisée par marc Beaugé dans le France Football du jour. ITW 3 pages et demie. Il y a de quoi lilre...

Oui 2 euros.
Il parle de pas mals de choses en plus.
Sa jeunesse, Houillier, Rafa, le fait qu'il ait failli partir, Liverpool, la saison dernère, la prochaine.. Bref, c'est assez sympa.

pour donner envie:

http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2009/20090616_094942_gerrard-et-zidane.html

Mardi, France Football démarre une série d'entretiens exclusifs avec quelques grands hommes de la saison écoulée. Steven Gerrard, le capitaine des Reds, ouvre le bal. Extraits. (Photo Presse-Sports)

Vingt-trois buts (16 en Premier League et 7 en Ligue des champions) en 41 matches pour Liverpool. Steven Gerrard n'a certes remporté aucun trophée cette saison, mais il a pris une nouvelle dimension au sein des Reds. Mardi dans un long entretien exclusif accordé à France Football, Steven Gerrard, élu joueur de l'année par la presse anglaise, revient sur la saison de Liverpool, la sienne, l'évolution de son rôle, son influence dans le collectif des Reds. Mais pas seulement. Le milieu de terrain de vingt-neuf ans se confie également sur son image, sa fidélité à Liverpool, ses mentors, sa jeunesse de supporter et de joueur.

Devenu une légende d'Anfield, Steven Gerrard aurait pu ne jamais jouer au football. « Le médecin a dit qu'il faudrait peut-être m'amputer des orteils », raconte-t-il. Une éventualité résultant d'une mésaventure, lorsqu'à dix ans, Steven Gerrard a été victime d'un accident alors qu'il jouait sur un terrain vague avec ses copains.
« Ginola m'a ridiculisé »

Par la suite, il gravira un à un les échelons (schoolboy, apprenti, professionnel) au sein de Liverpool. Il évoque ses premières apparitions en équipe première alors qu'il avait dix-huit ans. Il s'attarde son troisième match. C'était sur la pelouse de Tottenham. « Gérard (Houllier) nous a fait joué en 3-5-2 », se souvient-il. « J'occupais le côté droit, presque un poste de latéral. Ginola jouait à gauche (...). Et il m'a ridiculisé... »
Aujourd'hui, c'est lui qui ridiculise nombre de ses adversaires et est adulé par les plus grands. Zinedine Zidane, par exemple, disait encore il y a quelques semaines, qu'il était le meilleur milieu au monde. « Zidane, c'était spécial pour moi », souligne Steven Gerrard. « Ces compliments de sa part, c'est incroyablement flatteur. C'est l'un de mes héros (...) Quand je le croisais, j'étais comme un fan. Je cherchais à lui serrer la main à tout prix... »

A lire mardi dans France Football, l'intégralité de l'entretien avec Steven Gerrard : « Liverpool, c'est vraiment extraordinaire »

Il dit aussi qu'il pourrait peut-être raccrocher les crampons en 2013, l'année où son contrat se termine avec nous. Bon après, je pense que ça dépendra surtout de comment il se sent, et s'il est toujours en forme il continuera à jouer. Sans trop s'avancer, on peut raisonnablement dire qu'il a encore cinq bonnes saisons au top.
Par contre, ça me ferait atrocement mal de voir un des meilleurs milieu de terrain de l'histoire du football arrêter sa carrière en ayant pas gagné de PL...

Avec son âge, on a définitivement une raison supplémentaire de gagner cette PL 2009/2010 !

interview intéressante , il parle de plein de chose.
Bon j'ai pas appris grand chose à part l'épisode de son séjour aux urgences.

Sinon bon je savais pas qu'il était fan des reds étant gamin?

Vous êtes sûr vous qui connaissez bien mieux que moi l'histoire du club vous êtes sûr de sa?

Je croyais qu'il n'était pas spécialement fan ni des reds ni des toffees?

La fameuse photo le montrant avec le maillot d'Everton était en fait une oeuvre de son oncle, fan des Blue noses!

Sinon, j'ai aussi relevé quelques contradictions, notamment quand il déclare avoir suivi son premier match à Anfield... à 8 ans. En novembre 1986. Que je sache, il est né en 1980...