A look back at Liverpool FC related quotes from the last week
"I can understand the feelings between Man Utd and Liverpool. I’m a foreign player, so maybe I don’t have to think like that, but I know how the Liverpool fans feel and I remember the welcome I had when I arrived – it was just amazing, so I think Liverpool is my English club. I hope to play a lot of years or maybe even finish my career here. I don’t know, but Liverpool is my English team and I don’t think about playing for another one.”
Fernando Torres underlines his commitment to Liverpool.
“Never have I seen this team struggle so badly as we did in the first half. It was a poor performance. They pressed us into making mistakes, and we didn’t do anything that we spoke about. We didn’t play well at the beginning. We had too many problems, too many mistakes. Fiorentina were doing well. We had to change everything and the second half was totally different and much better.
“In the first half they were on top of us all the time. We didn’t do things like we were talking about before. We knew it could be difficult but Fiorentina did well and we were bad in everything.”
Rafa’s honest assessment of the Fiorentina debacle.
“I think that was the most annoyed we have seen the manager. We all felt like that after the first half and I think that's why you saw a better performance in the second. But we didn't need harsh words at half-time – we all knew that we were not playing well and that we had to be much better. We knew we would improve in the second and the manager was not the only one who was annoyed with us at half-time. We were annoyed with ourselves because we know how we played.
Fabio Aurelio after the Fiorentina defeat.
"We never performed well enough and we know that. We were slightly better in the second half but it still wasn't good enough. Nothing went to plan really. It was a massive game for them and a massive game for us but they seemed to be more ready for it from the start. It's something we have to sort out but fortunately there are still four games to go in the Champions League so we have time to put things right."
Carra’s disappointment after the Fiorentina game.
“The past few weeks have given me a lot of confidence. I was happy to contribute against West Ham but also the Leeds game was great for me as I played almost 90 minutes. That gave me a big boost. To score two goals against Hull was a bonus.
I’ve played some minutes on the right but I still have a feeling that on the left I have more possibilities with the ball.
"I can go inside or outside, take men on and create opportunities for the strikers. I’m trying to do whatever it takes to get in the team. In training sessions I’m working really hard and I think it’s just a matter of time before I get more chances. I had a similar situation when I was at Ajax. I learned a lot from that and I know I have to be mentally strong. I’m still confident I can be very important for Liverpool.”
Ryan Babel on his current form and World Cup chances
"I love playing with Stevie and when I play with him I know I have to worry about the defence. Stevie has to be given the freedom to attack and I'm happy in that holding role. We have so many players who love to attack and that has been the key to us scoring so many goals”.
Lucas Leiva on sacrificing himself for the team.
"He has been fantastic. He is the Premier League’s top scorer this season and the goals he scored against Hull were great, both right foot and left foot. Had he stayed on the pitch against Hull he could have scored five or six that day. With experience I think he will get better. Without doubt he is the best striker in the world at the moment”.
Ian Rush lavishing praise on Torres.
"It is good to be back and it felt good to be back on the pitch again. It is always frustrating when you are out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great. I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time and so I'm happy. I will keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."
Daniel Agger on his return from injury.
"I saw what he had to say, but I don't intend saying too much about him. Kuyt's record is there for everyone to see and he doesn't need me to defend him. You only need to look at the impact he has made to see he is picked on merit and has become an extremely important member of our squad. He speaks out on the pitch and doesn't have to say a single word to justify his place."
Rafa defends Dirk Kuyt after Jermaine Pennant’s scathing comments.
“People are talking about us having three defeats already but it’s important for us to keep calm and keep working. This year the top sides will lose points against the other teams. The main thing is for us to improve and try to do the right things. It is a long race.”
“We drew a lot of games last season. We only lost two but we had all those draws, and maybe this season we can win more games, maybe lose more, but it will mean that we have more points. We can’t just keep thinking about that we’ve lost three games already. We just have to keep going.”
Rafa’s assessment of the Chelsea defeat.
"I can understand the feelings between Man Utd and Liverpool. I’m a foreign player, so maybe I don’t have to think like that, but I know how the Liverpool fans feel and I remember the welcome I had when I arrived – it was just amazing, so I think Liverpool is my English club. I hope to play a lot of years or maybe even finish my career here. I don’t know, but Liverpool is my English team and I don’t think about playing for another one.”
Fernando Torres underlines his commitment to Liverpool.
“Never have I seen this team struggle so badly as we did in the first half. It was a poor performance. They pressed us into making mistakes, and we didn’t do anything that we spoke about. We didn’t play well at the beginning. We had too many problems, too many mistakes. Fiorentina were doing well. We had to change everything and the second half was totally different and much better.
“In the first half they were on top of us all the time. We didn’t do things like we were talking about before. We knew it could be difficult but Fiorentina did well and we were bad in everything.”
Rafa’s honest assessment of the Fiorentina debacle.
“I think that was the most annoyed we have seen the manager. We all felt like that after the first half and I think that's why you saw a better performance in the second. But we didn't need harsh words at half-time – we all knew that we were not playing well and that we had to be much better. We knew we would improve in the second and the manager was not the only one who was annoyed with us at half-time. We were annoyed with ourselves because we know how we played.
Fabio Aurelio after the Fiorentina defeat.
"We never performed well enough and we know that. We were slightly better in the second half but it still wasn't good enough. Nothing went to plan really. It was a massive game for them and a massive game for us but they seemed to be more ready for it from the start. It's something we have to sort out but fortunately there are still four games to go in the Champions League so we have time to put things right."
Carra’s disappointment after the Fiorentina game.
“The past few weeks have given me a lot of confidence. I was happy to contribute against West Ham but also the Leeds game was great for me as I played almost 90 minutes. That gave me a big boost. To score two goals against Hull was a bonus.
I’ve played some minutes on the right but I still have a feeling that on the left I have more possibilities with the ball.
"I can go inside or outside, take men on and create opportunities for the strikers. I’m trying to do whatever it takes to get in the team. In training sessions I’m working really hard and I think it’s just a matter of time before I get more chances. I had a similar situation when I was at Ajax. I learned a lot from that and I know I have to be mentally strong. I’m still confident I can be very important for Liverpool.”
Ryan Babel on his current form and World Cup chances
"I love playing with Stevie and when I play with him I know I have to worry about the defence. Stevie has to be given the freedom to attack and I'm happy in that holding role. We have so many players who love to attack and that has been the key to us scoring so many goals”.
Lucas Leiva on sacrificing himself for the team.
"He has been fantastic. He is the Premier League’s top scorer this season and the goals he scored against Hull were great, both right foot and left foot. Had he stayed on the pitch against Hull he could have scored five or six that day. With experience I think he will get better. Without doubt he is the best striker in the world at the moment”.
Ian Rush lavishing praise on Torres.
"It is good to be back and it felt good to be back on the pitch again. It is always frustrating when you are out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great. I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time and so I'm happy. I will keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."
Daniel Agger on his return from injury.
"I saw what he had to say, but I don't intend saying too much about him. Kuyt's record is there for everyone to see and he doesn't need me to defend him. You only need to look at the impact he has made to see he is picked on merit and has become an extremely important member of our squad. He speaks out on the pitch and doesn't have to say a single word to justify his place."
Rafa defends Dirk Kuyt after Jermaine Pennant’s scathing comments.
“People are talking about us having three defeats already but it’s important for us to keep calm and keep working. This year the top sides will lose points against the other teams. The main thing is for us to improve and try to do the right things. It is a long race.”
“We drew a lot of games last season. We only lost two but we had all those draws, and maybe this season we can win more games, maybe lose more, but it will mean that we have more points. We can’t just keep thinking about that we’ve lost three games already. We just have to keep going.”
Rafa’s assessment of the Chelsea defeat.
