Gerrard: Fatigue is all in the mind

Steven Gerrard claims worries about burn-out and player fatigue ahead of the World Cup will evaporate if he can inspire Liverpool to become the club champions of the world next month.

As reigning European champions Liverpool have to travel to Japan for two matches in the Toyota Cup – FIFA’s new-look Club World Championship – in December.

Gerrard missed England’s World Cup campaign in Japan and South Korea in 2002 due to injury and concerns have been expressed that the Toyota Cup is just another burden on players in an already congested season.

The Liverpool skipper however believes the best remedy for fatigue is winning trophies, and Gerrard is confident that manager Rafael Benitez will act to protect the players’ fitness over the season.

He said: “A lot of people have been speaking about fatigue and us playing a lot of games but if we are winning those games it really helps.

“There are two ways of looking at this competition. You can see it as a negative and say it gets in the way of the season and comes at a difficult time or you can look forward to it and see it as a positive, hopefully win it and use if as a confidence boost for the rest of the season.

“This is an opportunity to be club world champions and that’s what we will be trying to do as players.

“I have played a lot of games already this season but the manager has said it’s all about the squad, and that certain individuals will be rested to make sure everyone plays near enough the same number of games.

“I’m sure I will get the rest at the right times and that at the World Cup I’ll be fresh, and I’m already starting to look forward to it.

“I had to watch the last one in Japan at home on TV and it was very frustrating.”

Gerrard’s flexibility could prove crucial to England in Germany in the summer - he played in three different positions in England’s win over Argentina – and he has no doubts he made the right decision in the summer to stay at Liverpool.

“I couldn’t be happier at the moment,” added Gerrard. “I’m enjoying my football. We have just beaten Argentina 3-2, six months after we won the Champions League.

“Winning football matches is the way we want to go and our form of late has been really good.

“Yes I’ve been played in a lot of different positions – I’m just waiting for the shout to have a go in goal – but I don’t see it as a problem as long as managers are picking me in the starting XI.

“Everyone knows that ideally I like to play attacking midfield. You can be selfish and sulk if you are not played there or you can be a team player.

“That’s what it’s about, you cannot afford to think about yourself, it’s about winning trophies as a team and being a team player.”

Liverpool will face either Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa or Australian champions Sydney FC in the Toyota Cup semi-final in Yokohama on December 12. If they win that, they face a likely semi-final against South American champions Sao Paulo three days later.

Sao Paulo have a semi-final against either Egyptian side Al Ahly, the African champions, or Al Ittihad, the Asian champions from Saudi Arabia.

There have been suggestions that Benitez will take an under-strength side to Yokohama but speaking in front of FIFA’s general secretary Urs Linsi at Anfield, the Liverpool manager was at pains to make it clear he would field his best team.

Benitez said: “People have asked whether we will go there tired or with our best team. The answer is for sure we will go with the best team and as fit as possible.

“We will try our best to win it, for a manager it’s a challenge to win every game and we are delighted we have this possibility.”

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry also emphasised the need for the club to put on a show for their fans in the Far East, and to attract investment.

However Parry ruled out any chances of an announcement about investment from the Kraft family before next month’s competition.

Meanwhile, it is understood that contrary to some reports Liverpool are not interested in signing centre-back Chris Riggott from Middlesbrough.