Gerrard’s return gives Reina lift
The visit of Fulham this evening is the first of three home matches in four fixtures — the other being a St Stephen’s Day trip to Blackpool.
With Steven Gerrard due to return after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury today, Reina sees the Reds finally going on a run.
“He’s a key player for us and when he’s in the team it’s much easier for us,” said Reina.
“The confidence and the commitment he gives to this club — you have to drag yourself to the level of his passion.”
The Cottagers, Wolves and Bolton all have to travel to Merseyside in the next three weeks and Reina believes they have to take full advantage if they are to close the current nine-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea.
“We know it’s a critical moment in the season. Every year Christmas time is huge,” said the Spain international, who on his last Anfield appearance beat Ray Clemence’s record in reaching 100 league clean sheets in the fastest time.
“There are 12 points just around the corner for us. They are tough but winnable games so it’s a time to get ourselves back on track. The top four is realistic — that’s realistic to talk about now.
“We have to beat Fulham and let’s see how the Christmas period ends, then in January we can see where we’re aiming for.”
Reina, who will make his 200th Premier League appearance today, accepts the squad have failed to meet expectations so far this season but insists they still have time to turn things around.
And he has been encouraged by recent displays, even taking into account the performance in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle.
“I’m seeing a lot of desire among the staff and players,” added the 28-year-old.
“We have been playing better over the last month.
“We are more into the manager’s ideas, we’re getting into the philosophy.
“It’s now about getting the results as well as the performances and also we have to recognise we badly need to improve, especially away from home.”
Manager Roy Hodgson hopes to be able to use their impressive recent home form, which includes a 2-0 victory over then league leaders Chelsea, to build a platform for the remainder of the season.
“We know we have a lot of work to do. We know we want to win more matches and get ourselves higher up the table,” said the 63-year-old, who will face the club he left in the summer for the first time.
“Luckily our form at Anfield in the Premier League is good and we have won our last four and we have also beaten Napoli (in the Europa League).
“That is five good wins that buoy us and give us some confidence and hope.
“The opponent does not make it an ideal match but the occasion — we are playing at home against another Premier League team — makes it the ideal opportunity. But we know Fulham are a difficult team to beat and we have enormous respect for them.”
Mark Hughes will exploit some inside knowledge in a bid to help Fulham spring a surprise at Anfield and win on the road for the first time since the opening day of last season.
Hodgson’s replacement Hughes has enlisted his players’ help to expose the weaknesses in their former boss’s game plan.
“Obviously, a number of players will understand what Roy’s teams are about,” Hughes said.
“He likes his teams well-drilled, organised and a lot of the work that Liverpool will be doing at this moment in time is very similar to what he did for the last two years here.
“A lot of things, they’ll be aware of in terms of what Roy will try to get from his team and how he’ll set them up. So obviously I’ve got an insight into that because of the players that he’s worked with previously.”
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