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Pepe Reina: Manchester United Clash Is A Final For Liverpool
Shot-stopper says defeat would mean "disaster" for Reds...
23-Oct-2009 12:51:18 PM
Pepe Reina has stressed that Liverpool must treat this weekend's blockbuster clash with Manchester United as a "final", insisting that a fifth Premier League loss would put his side out of the title race.
The Reds are languishing in eighth place following last Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Sunderland, and the midweek defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League has sent alarm bells ringing around Anfield.
"This is a final for us and a game we just have to win," Reina said in The Daily Star. "If we lose, we will be 10 points behind Manchester United and that will be just too big a gap in the Premier League. We cannot afford to think of defeat because it would be a disaster.
"The defeat to Lyon has damaged us massively but we have to put the Champions League behind us for now. We just can't afford one mistake against United because they will take advantage. We are working as hard as we can to get our confidence back but in just a few things everything has become so negative."
Rafael Benitez's position at the helm has come under close scrutiny amid what is Liverpool's worst run of results in more than two decades, but Reina insisted that the players were to blame.
The Spanish goalkeeper said: "The manager Benítez has come in for a lot of criticism but in truth it is the players' fault and we have to realise like. We just have to get three points because it will be good for us and will also stop Manchester United."
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
The Reds are languishing in eighth place following last Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Sunderland, and the midweek defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League has sent alarm bells ringing around Anfield.
"This is a final for us and a game we just have to win," Reina said in The Daily Star. "If we lose, we will be 10 points behind Manchester United and that will be just too big a gap in the Premier League. We cannot afford to think of defeat because it would be a disaster.
"The defeat to Lyon has damaged us massively but we have to put the Champions League behind us for now. We just can't afford one mistake against United because they will take advantage. We are working as hard as we can to get our confidence back but in just a few things everything has become so negative."
Rafael Benitez's position at the helm has come under close scrutiny amid what is Liverpool's worst run of results in more than two decades, but Reina insisted that the players were to blame.
The Spanish goalkeeper said: "The manager Benítez has come in for a lot of criticism but in truth it is the players' fault and we have to realise like. We just have to get three points because it will be good for us and will also stop Manchester United."
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
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