KOP OF THE POPS ... Torres, Gerrard, Alonso
and Carragher as Ringo, John, Paul and George
No one can convince the Spanish star that Manchester
United are favourites to win the Champions League. Or that the Reds
cannot overtake their greatest rivals and pip them to the Premier
League title.
It’s all ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ at Anfield as far as the
Spanish defender is concerned. Looking to Europe, Arbeloa is
undaunted at the prospect of facing Chelsea in the last eight. He
has also warned United that Liverpool could easily win all of their
remaining eight league games to take a first Championship since
1990 and 19th in all.
The team are in buoyant mood after hitting 13 goals in
three successive victories over Real Madrid, United and Aston
Villa. And Arbeloa, 25, said: “This team is on the way to becoming
more famous than The Beatles.
“There are many weeks of emotion awaiting us in the
Champions League and Premier League and this season could end up
being historic for us. “We are developing a sensational game and
now all the pressure is on United. I believe they could fail and we
are ready for that moment.”
Sunday’s 5-0 home drubbing of Villa took Liverpool to
just a point behind leaders United. Alex Ferguson’s men have a game
in hand but have lost back-to-back league games to the Kop and
Fulham — and Liverpool also have a superior goal
difference.
The latest batch of results has set up the possibility
of a fairytale finish for the Anfielders to an already thrilling
campaign. For so long it was assumed United would not only
automatically retain their league crown but also draw level with
the Merseysiders’ current record total of 18 wins.
For much of the season, Liverpool have suffered from
self-doubt in the wake of poor results against the likes of Stoke
and Hull. On February 28, defeat at Middlesbrough allowed United to
open up a 10-point lead and the cause looked all but lost. But from
the ashes of what seemed a burned-out title charge, they have
turned things around.
The 4-0 Anfield rout of Real also heightened the
tension in the Champions League, another crown United are thirsting
to keep. Liverpool will now go top of the table if they win at
Fulham on April 4, as they are playing 24 hours before the Red
Devils face Villa at Old Trafford.
Manager Rafa Benitez has stressed there is ‘real
belief’ among his squad that they ‘can beat anyone’ — and Arbeloa
sees no hint of the recent trend changing. He added: “Our objective
is to win all our league games between now and the end of the
season. It is a difficult task but not impossible now our morale’s
improved so much.
“That triumph at Old Trafford really increased our
desire to be the champions.” As for the Champions League, he
admitted: “We didn’t desire Chelsea and would have preferred not to
have drawn an English rival. My dream was to play Bayern Munich or
Barcelona. But I still insist we are the favourites.
“Since the arrival of Guus Hiddink, the Blues have
improved. But Champions League games are different and we manage
these kind of situations better. “From our point of view, Rafa’s
new deal was very important. He may appear to be too serious for
many people but that’s not what the players think.
“He is a coach whose only desire is to obtain the
maximum from everybody and, under him, I feel like I am the best
player in Spain. “We are happy he is staying because the news means
continuity and generates calm and confidence as we go about our
work.”
<!-- Article End -->
