Wednesday 17 September 2014 12:54, UK
Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool are not there to make up the numbers in this season’s UEFA Champions League as they look to use Anfield to their advantage.
Following a five-year absence from Europe’s elite club competition, the Reds host Bulgarian side Ludogorets at Anfield in a group which also contains the holders Real Madrid and Swiss champions Basel.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are widely expected to progress from Group B and reach the knock-out stages for the first time since 2009, but few are tipping them for a repeat of 2005’s glory.
"We understand that we are not the favourites," Gerrard told the Daily Mail. "There are some big hitters that people will be tipping to win.
"But the message from me, as captain of this team, is that we are not making up the numbers. No way.
"We have got such a big advantage over two legs with Anfield that other teams haven’t got.
"You come to Anfield and you’re getting a terribly hard 90 minutes. And we are going to make it even harder for you."
Liverpool went without European football completely last season and many believe that was an important factor in achieving a second-place finish and securing a Champions League return.
We understand that we are not the favourites. There are some big hitters that people will be tipping to win. But the message from me, as captain of this team, is that we are not making up the numbers. No way.
Gerrard, who is set to make his 69th appearance in the competition, says Rodgers’ side must now make sure they qualify again this year while also pushing for the latter stages.
"It’s the best competition to play in at club level. There’s a hole there when you are out of it," he said.
"Maybe you forget how lucky you are when you are consistently getting to the latter stages and popping up in finals. It was such an unbelievable achievement.
"But I’ve got confidence that might not be too far away if the owners continue to back Brendan Rodgers as they have done.
"I’ve got a lot of confidence in Brendan and the squad.
"I’ll put it another way, if we go out in the group stages, or the last 16, we will be majorly, majorly disappointed.
"We want to progress. We want to go as far as we can. This can’t be a one-off.
"This isn’t a reward for finishing second last year. I don’t see it as a reward.
"This is where Liverpool should be – and should be consistently. It’s the responsibility of me and the players to give it our best crack.
"It is important that we have got the Champions League next year as well."
Rodgers believes Liverpool's scouting of the Bulgarian minnows had revealed they were an open side but they may - as Villa did so successfully at the weekend - come to Anfield with a plan to frustrate.
The Reds boss insists his side are set up to cope with that.
"Their normal game in Bulgaria, the club's emphasis is to play attacking football," he said.
"They may want to come here and sit back of course, which is fine as a tactic but we only worry about ourselves.
"We are used to starting games quickly at Anfield but it is also vital if we don't get a goal in those early moments we don't concede."
