Gerrard: Reds in hunt for league title

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard insists the club’s quest for the Premier League title is still on track while claiming leaders Arsenal will crack under the pressures of the campaign.

Gerrard, who first captained the Reds five years ago this week, is defiant in the wake of the midweek mauling of Besiktas in the Champions League and the team’s re-established confidence.

Gerrard, with four goals in his last five games going into today’s game with Fulham, also considers he is back to his best form after a difficult spell.

He said: “I played through it and now I have come out the other side, scoring goals and feeling great.

“We are keeping pace at the top and we are not at our best yet, while few would argue that Arsenal are playing to their full potential at the moment.

“They’re on fire and playing out of their skin. But they have not had the problems that us, Chelsea and Manchester United have had with injuries to key players.”

“The only thing we can do is get our own house in order and keep winning. Our away form is a massive improvement on last season, and we know we must improve at home.

“But people are saying we are out of it and struggling. Wrong. We are in the first week of November, in a better position than this time last season and unbeaten in the league with a game in hand on most.

“Let us see where we are when the prizes are handed out come May.”

On his own battle for form, Gerrard said: “I know I was not at my best earlier in the season. But when you have been out for a while like I was with injury, it is always going to take time to get back into your rhythm.”

Meanwhile, manager Rafael Benitez insists being part of a record-breaking 8-0 European rout does not guarantee a place in his Liverpool side.

Peter Crouch returned from exile to score twice against Besiktas in midweek but that will not automatically ensure he continues in Benitez’s front line.

“The situation does not worry me,” said Benitez. “I can choose from four strikers who I believe are all playing well.

“I was pleased with Crouch but I must repeat that Voronin did not score but was the best player on the pitch for us going forward.

“Crouch was good — and I don’t want to give any other impression — but when we brought him to the club it was because we knew he was a good player.

“But Voronin didn’t score and played well, (Yossi) Benayoun, (Ryan) Babel, (Fabio) Aurelio, (Alvaro) Arbeloa, they all played well.

“Torres was fit to play in the week and will be in the squad against Fulham but now I have to decide whether he plays.”