Dirk sets sights on silverware
Dirk Kuyt today spoke of his determination to end his trophy drought as a Liverpool player as the Reds look to take the next step on the road to Carling Cup glory.
Kenny Dalglish's side travel to take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium this evening with a place in the quarter-finals of the competition at stake, and after suffering a number of near misses since signing for the Reds in 2006, Kuyt is desperate to finally celebrate silverware this season.
"In all my time as a Liverpool player I have been close to winning trophies," he says. "There was the Champions League final, the semi-final (in 2008) and coming second in the Premier League. We have been close but it is now time to get some silverware.
"Not being involved in Europe is a major blow to the club so the Carling Cup is a great trophy to win because we're all desperate to win some silverware.
"Last season was such a disappointment, this one is all about improvement and we can achieve that by doing well in the Carling Cup."
To keep their Cup dreams alive for this season, the Reds will need to avenge their league defeat at Stoke earlier in the campaign when a first half penalty was enough to separate the teams on the day.
"It is one of the most difficult games in the league," adds Kuyt. "They are very strong, but we can be a strong, physical team as well.
"If we create as many chances as we have been doing we will be happy, but the only thing that has to change is the number of goals we score. That means we have to be more ruthless.
"We're not the only team that struggles there. It is because they are such a strong, physical team.
"There are lots of long balls and second balls, and good throw-ins from which they score a lot of goals. It makes it very difficult, but we can't wait to play the next game.
"We have a lot of respect for them, but we must look at ourselves. We have a great team and we will be prepared. If we play to our level we know we can do well there.
"We were the better team there earlier in the season so now we have another opportunity against them and it is something we look forward to."
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