The way Kuyt took his two goals...

[Ron_Mexico]

how about the way kuyt missed all those sitters.natural goal scorer...oh plsssss

your obsession with bashing kuyt is getting creepy

who could bash any of our players at a time like this, there's no reason for it

[REDSCOUSER]

Liverpool's 'gang of four' strikers are in a fierce battle for first-team recognition - but they are really just brothers in arms according to Dirk Kuyt.

The 27-year-old Dutchman scored twice against Toulouse in Tuesday night's Champions League qualifier at Anfield, also creating Peter Crouch's opening goal, but he still has no idea whether he will be in the side on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League against Derby.

Manager Rafael Benitez has already used four different strike partnerships this season in just five games, and wants that level of rivalry to create strong competition for a place in the side.

But after shooting Liverpool into the group stages draw in Monaco on Thursday, Kuyt maintains that there is a strong bond between himself, Crouch, Andriy Voronin and record signing Fernando Torres.

The four have all got off the mark already this campaign and have netted six goals between them.

Kuyt said: "All the strikers support each other, we all want each other to do well, and we are close as a unit.

"But it is going to be difficult because we have four good strikers and sometimes it is not so nice for one or two of us because we will not be on the pitch."

Crouch has already had discussions with Benitez about the situation, and responded with his early goal against the French side after failing to be included in the two previous squad.

Kuyt added: "We understand why Peter was not happy recently, I believe it is something we would all feel if it happened to any of us.

"But that does not mean we don't understand the reasons, it is just understandable that everyone always wants to play.

"We understand the problem and we try to help each other, we are all facing the same thing and there is a good relationship between the four strikers.

"This time it was me to be in the side and I scored two and helped create Peter's goal. I enjoyed it all, but I felt I could have done better and scored more."

He continued: "We are all trying to impress the manager, but this situation is also difficult for our opponents because they have no idea what pairing the manager will select for each match.

"We are all different and that does not help opponents prepare. But the boss made seven changes against Toulouse and it was clear that we are still a strong team, that is really all that matters.

"That is our strength for the season. And what was evident was that whoever plays they always know what to do and what their job is."

Two of the frontline four will have to sit out the Derby clash at Anfield where Liverpool will be bidding to maintain their unbeaten run this term.

Kuyt said: "In the Premier League we can only have a squad of 16, so there will only be one striker on the bench. It is easier in the Champions League because the squad is 18 players, which means there is the chance for two frontmen to be substitutes with the chance of getting on.

"We can all get involved then. But when it is the league and somebody is not getting involved, it means that person will not be happy with that.

"But we were able to control the game against Toulouse, and with a different side we controlled the game last weekend at Sunderland.

"We have 24 really good players and we know we are all going to be involved at some stage.

"Maybe the manager can put out two completely different sides and he believes that should not matter and we should be able to win anyway."


What i bolded is a look of a confident player who wants to do better and improve all the time. A mentality that previous LFC managers liked and Rafa likes as well. Always try to do more. NUFF SAID

[friedk]

how about the way kuyt missed all those sitters.natural goal scorer...oh plsssss

you forgot to add, and kept going until the final whistle, scoring two good goals that his performance richly deserved.

To slate a player who created one and scored two of our four goals is just silly.