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Downing admits first Liverpool season has been ‘a bit up and down’
The former Villa man concedes he has found it hard to get used to the pressure of playing at a top club, but is hopeful recent improvement will ensure a League Cup final start
23 Feb 2012 00:09:00
By Liam Twomey
Getty Images
Stewart Downing has admitted his first season at Liverpool has been “a bit up and down” as he has struggled with the pressure of playing at a higher level.
The 27-year-old arrived at Anfield from Aston Villa for a fee of around £20 million last summer, but patchy form and a lack of end product has seen him relegated to the bench by manager Kenny Dalglish on a number of occasions.
Downing concedes a lack of regular starts has been a shock to the system, but says he has realised he cannot afford to feel sorry for himself if he wants to win the faith of his boss.
“It’s been a bit up and down,” he told reporters. “Some good games, some indifferent ones.
"I have been on the bench sometimes, whereas at other clubs I’ve been used to playing every week more or less.
“That’s been hard to get used to. It’s been a little bit of a culture shock almost, but I have adapted to that and you just have to be ready when you get called upon to play.
“I expected pressure, but I didn’t expect it to be as big as it has been. You are under the microscope every day. In every game, people are looking at you.
“But that’s Liverpool, and that’s why you want to be here. You have got to blank everything out. You want to be at a club that is challenging every week and is pushing you on as a player.
“The easy thing would be to just spit the dummy and say there’s no pointing hanging around.
“All you can do is work hard and keep training well - Kenny has stressed from day one that if you don’t train well, you won’t be in the team.
“Kenny sees everything. He watches training every day and if you’re not doing well or you spit your dummy out, you won’t be picked.
“You have just got to give him a problem by training well and make sure that he picks you.”
Downing laid on a goal for Andy Carroll to cap a much improved performance in Liverpool’s 6-1 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The 27-year-old says he is hoping his display will be enough to ensure some involvement as the Reds take on Cardiff City in the League Cup final at Wembley this weekend.
“In the back of my mind, I knew the final was around the corner and so it was important to play well against Brighton,” he added. “It was a good performance from the team and Kenny was delighted at the end.
“I felt I was thoroughly involved against Brighton. You’ve just got to keep your head down and keep working hard. If you do that, good things will come and hopefully I will play some part in the final.
“Cardiff will be a tough test. I remember playing them with Middlesbrough in an FA Cup quarter-final. Everyone expected us to win at the Riverside, but they beat us 2-0.
"I know what they can do, so we have to be prepared.”
The 27-year-old arrived at Anfield from Aston Villa for a fee of around £20 million last summer, but patchy form and a lack of end product has seen him relegated to the bench by manager Kenny Dalglish on a number of occasions.
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Downing concedes a lack of regular starts has been a shock to the system, but says he has realised he cannot afford to feel sorry for himself if he wants to win the faith of his boss.
“It’s been a bit up and down,” he told reporters. “Some good games, some indifferent ones.
"I have been on the bench sometimes, whereas at other clubs I’ve been used to playing every week more or less.
“That’s been hard to get used to. It’s been a little bit of a culture shock almost, but I have adapted to that and you just have to be ready when you get called upon to play.
“I expected pressure, but I didn’t expect it to be as big as it has been. You are under the microscope every day. In every game, people are looking at you.
“But that’s Liverpool, and that’s why you want to be here. You have got to blank everything out. You want to be at a club that is challenging every week and is pushing you on as a player.
“The easy thing would be to just spit the dummy and say there’s no pointing hanging around.
“All you can do is work hard and keep training well - Kenny has stressed from day one that if you don’t train well, you won’t be in the team.
“Kenny sees everything. He watches training every day and if you’re not doing well or you spit your dummy out, you won’t be picked.
“You have just got to give him a problem by training well and make sure that he picks you.”
Downing laid on a goal for Andy Carroll to cap a much improved performance in Liverpool’s 6-1 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The 27-year-old says he is hoping his display will be enough to ensure some involvement as the Reds take on Cardiff City in the League Cup final at Wembley this weekend.
“In the back of my mind, I knew the final was around the corner and so it was important to play well against Brighton,” he added. “It was a good performance from the team and Kenny was delighted at the end.
“I felt I was thoroughly involved against Brighton. You’ve just got to keep your head down and keep working hard. If you do that, good things will come and hopefully I will play some part in the final.
“Cardiff will be a tough test. I remember playing them with Middlesbrough in an FA Cup quarter-final. Everyone expected us to win at the Riverside, but they beat us 2-0.
"I know what they can do, so we have to be prepared.”
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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