Steven Gerrard has a simple message for Liverpool FC ahead of its biggest week of the 2013-14 season: “stay calm.”
Following Liverpool’s 2-1 win against West Ham on Sunday — the Reds’ ninth consecutive Premier League triumph — Gerrard gave Liverpool players and fans their marching orders for the week ahead.
“There are some very hard games to go — we’ve got a huge game next week,” Gerrard told Sky Sports, according to LiverpoolFC.com. “The message is to stay calm.”
League-leading Liverpool hosts Manchester City next Sunday in a game pitting the Premier League’s first and third-place teams against each other.
Gerrard says the Reds will approach that game with the same mindset that has helped them climb to the top of the league standings.
“We’ll give everything we can now and every time we go on the pitch, we’ve got to leave every single ounce of energy and determination out there. That’s what we’re planning to do.”
Gerrard cited mental strength as a reason why Liverpool overcame a setback, which came moments before halftime against West Ham, and controlled the second period en route to victory.
“We wanted to go in with our noses in front. But the character and determination of the team — we want this really badly — showed in the second half.
“The manager said to us at half-time, and the players were saying: ‘We can’t change anything — it happens.’ They all even themselves out throughout the season.
“That one went against us, but we couldn’t feel sorry for ourselves. We had to roll our sleeves up and give an extra 10 per cent — that’s what we did.”
Gerrard makes it all sound so basic. “Relax and give your all,” is a mantra worth following, as Liverpool looks to make it ten in a row.
Review Liverpool’s victory against West Ham>>
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Photo via LiverpoolFC.com
