Gerrard chats about transfers.

[taliesin08]

Associated Press

May 13, 2008 at 4:04 PM EDT

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on the club's feuding owners to back manager Rafa Benitez with cash so the Reds can match their biggest rivals in the league title race.

Since Liverpool last captured the title in 1990, Manchester United has won the championship 10 times, Arsenal four times and Chelsea twice, which has become an embarrassment to the record 18-time champion.

That means that Gerrard, whose team finished fourth in the Premier League and 11 points behind winner United, has not experienced the euphoria of a league title triumph despite sharing in the Reds' Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Carling Cup successes.

"Obviously I have to be careful that I don't send expectations through the roof again, but for me I am desperate for (a title challenge)," Gerrard said Tuesday. "I believe in this team and this manager, and believe we can make it happen.

"We need help and new players, and the manager needs help from the board to make these signings happen and make us stronger. I do expect us to be involved next season."

Because American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., who also owns the Montreal Canadiens, are feuding over who should have control of the club, it's not clear how much money Benitez will have to spend on new players in the transfer market.

"But (Benitez) does assure me and the other players that, if anyone becomes available who would strengthen the side, then he will go out and buy them. It's important Rafa gets the right backing above him as well," Gerrard said.

"This is a tough league to win. We are strengthening all the time, working as hard as any other team. But sometimes you have to realize there are other sides that are as good as us who are strengthening and working hard as well. They want it just as much as us."

Gerrard has been with the club since he joined as a teenager and has played a major part in the club's other triumphs. But he knows how strong the fans feel about not winning the league title.

"It has been a long time for this club, so we all maybe need to give that extra five or 10 per cent," he said.

"It's difficult to say how many world-class players we need. You look at the points difference and over the last few years we have made it smaller. Playing against the Arsenals and Chelsea, it has been close. We are giving them good games which are tight and get decided on small details.

"If we can make the team a little bit stronger, have a few more options and match-winners, and make the team a tiny bit better defensively, we can do it."

[Best Believe It]

Originally Posted by Steven Gerrard

"Obviously I have to be careful that I don't send expectations through the roof again, but for me I am desperate for (a title challenge)," Gerrard said Tuesday. "I believe in this team and this manager, and believe we can make it happen.
"We need help and new players, and the manager needs help from the board to make these signings happen and make us stronger. I do expect us to be involved next season."

Fair play, skipper.

[RSM]

Well in lad.

[cochcaer]

We could but I think everything else would have to be sacrificed for a banzai effort at the title.

[hamstrung]

Good show Gerrard.

[ratcatcher]

Originally Posted by cochcaer

We could but I think everything else would have to be sacrificed for a banzai effort at the title.

Would that be so hard? We almost seem to sacrifice everything else for CL tilts so why not the PL?

[longballs]

Originally Posted by taliesin08

"If we can make the team a little bit stronger, have a few more options and match-winners, and make the team a tiny bit better defensively, we can do it."

yup, yup yup

[johnb]

Yawn.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by johnb

Yawn.

That's what I thought. We always hear these type of statements every summer but they basically mean jack shit.

Players know exactly what they should say to the media - whether they believe what they're saying is another matter!

[johnb]

Originally Posted by Brownie

That's what I thought. We always hear these type of statements every summer but they basically mean jack shit.

Players know exactly what they should say to the media - whether they believe what they're saying is another matter!

This calls for a piss-up mate!

[Rashid]

I think it is a travesty that one of our greatest ever midfield players has never been involved in a title challenge.

[cochcaer]

Originally Posted by ratcatcher

Would that be so hard? We almost seem to sacrifice everything else for CL tilts so why not the PL?

I wouldn't lose any sleep. I'm just not sure we've the depth to compete on four fronts unless Rafa is provided with quality players to cover for Torres and others.

[Spy Bee]

Rashid, this is not a travesty. Monks burning themselves in protest, millions of people never living free, petrol prices - these are travesties.

[Falla]

If he wants to win the league Gerrard should concentrate on his own game and start showing up when it matters and not just against poor opposition.

[Spy Bee]

Originally Posted by Falla

If he wants to win the league Gerrard should concentrate on his own game and start showing up when it matters and not just against poor opposition.

You must be a Momo.

[Falla]

I've no idea what a Momo is, but if it has similar views on Gerrard to me, I'm ok with that.

Gerrard talks a lot in the media about what he and we should be doing, but tends to pick and choose his games throughout the season when he can really be bothered, usually against weaker sides at home, and is still yet to dominate against any of the big sides and give us that edge that we desperately need in those games.

World class player but still not consistant enough, and if we're going to build a team around him we need him on his game week in week out.

[ronnie_whelan]

Originally Posted by Rashid

I think it is a travesty that one of our greatest ever midfield players has never been involved in a title challenge.

It's also a travesty he never ones throws his hat in the ring and has a fucking stormer against of the other teams in the "big 4".

I lost my love for him when he flirted with that shower.

Good player mind.

[Malarkey]

Alonso has you mad man.

[Rashid]

Originally Posted by ronnie_whelan

It's also a travesty he never ones throws his hat in the ring and has a fucking stormer against of the other teams in the "big 4".

I lost my love for him when he flirted with that shower.

Good player mind.

Who else does though? Who else in the team has stormers against the top 4? Gerrard can't do it on his own.. although I remember him having great games against United a few years back, against Arsenal under Rafa and so on.

[ronnie_whelan]

Our captain and one of out "greatest midfielders ever" shouldn't be waiting to see if anyone else fancies it, he should be dragging everyone else into this fight, hence that fancy thing he wears round his arm that says captain. I've never known a player to dissapear at stamford bridge so much, he seems terrified to upset terry/lampard et al. He's a shark, giving us all the sob story about wanting to be in a title race, well join the fucking club, who doesnt?

[BENIRL]

The reason we have finished fourth is because we do not have as much quality as the other 3 above us. When we play them Gerrard has a lot more work to do as we lack quality in other areas, mainly out wide. To imply he bottles it is just stupid.

Yawn