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Gerrard: We'd still need to strengthen
May 5, 2012
Steven Gerrard says Liverpool will still need 2 sign new players tis summer, even if they complete a cup double by winning the FA Cup against Chelsea on Saturday.
Liverpool hv been magnificent in knockout competitions tis season, beating both Chelsea & ManC en route 2 the Carling Cup as well as overcoming ManU & Everton in order 2 reach the FA Cup final.
However, the club's league form has been dire. A tally of 5 home wins in 18 outings has seen the Reds drop to 8th in the table, & they r set 2 finish the campaign below Merseyside rivals Everton.
Gerrard & team-mate Jamie Carragher hv stated their belief tat victory in the FA Cup final would make 4 a "great" season, but the skipper does not 1 tat 2 be misunderstood as an acceptance of the club's current standards.
"Let's be realistic - @ the start of the season our chances of winning the Premier League were slim," Gerrard said. "We had ManC's power 2 contend with & Chelsea's power, ManU r always there, so we were probably 4th or 5th fav @ the time.
"But we had much better chances of going out & winning the Carling Cup & getting 2 the FA Cup final & tat's wat we've done. Wat it shows is tat, if we do win the FA Cup, tis squad still needs slight tweaking in the summer if we r 2 compete in the Premier League."
Gerrard is a realist when it comes 2 Liverpool's form. He refuses 2 try 2 find excuses 4 their poor league campaign, preferring instead 2 acknowledge tat they simply hv not been good enough.
"There's no point looking 4 excuses & complaining abt tat. We've under-delivered & underperformed in the league, simple, but we've been fantastic in the cups.
"We r hoping when we assess the season in a couple of weeks it will be with 2 trophies in the cabinet. Tat has got 2 breed confidence & belief in2 tis squad & we hv got 2 take tat in2 next season."
Gerrard has often delivered in the biggest games 4 his club, with inspirational displays in the 2005 Champions League final & 2006 FA Cup final evidence of his talismanic presence, but he insists Liverpool's hopes do not rest solely on his shoulders @ Wembley tis weekend.
"We beat Everton in a massive game @ Wembley not so long ago & I didn't get the goals, so we've certainly got players in & around the squad who can be match-winners," he said. "Not all the pressure's on me. It's up 2 every1 2 deliver trophies 4 tis club.
"Maybe the knockout nature of the cups has brought the best out of us tis season, but wat it also shows is tat when we r down, under the cosh & under pressure, tis team is never beaten."