Gerrard: We must keep minds on job

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has stressed any mention of Wembley has been banned in the dressing room.

The Reds host Manchester City tonight in a crucial Carling Cup semi-final second leg tie. They may hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg but after manager Kenny Dalglish blamed the cup games against City and the one to come against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Saturday for their abysmal performance at the weekend, Gerrard insists the players will have their focus right.

“[Wembley talk] has got to be banned because we haven’t made it there yet,” said the England international.

“Of course it enters your mind and you dream about it; that helps when it comes to motivation. But I don’t think any of our players will be getting carried away or thinking we’ve already done the job. We know this is a big game and a tough game.”

Liverpool may not have been to Wembley for 16 years, and not won a trophy since their FA Cup triumph in Cardiff in 2006, but Gerrard believes his goal at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago gives them an edge.

And, having reached two Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007, winning the first, via two-legged semi-finals, he thinks there is the know-how to get the job done against Roberto Mancini’s side.

“I think experience is important, it always is,” he said. “Especially when you have a lead in such an important two-legged fixture.

“We need to play to our maximum. We need every player to turn up and play well to qualify.

“We need to ignore the scoreline and go into this game trying to win it. I think if we’re too negative and try to just protect the lead it could be very dangerous.”

The Liverpool manager echoed his skipper’s assessment of the task ahead.

Dalglish said: “We have a slight advantage, we just need to go into the game and compete.

“It’s not going to be a game that’s going to be anything other than really difficult for us.”