LUCAS: WE'VE COME HERE TO WIN Joe Curran in Eindhoven 09 December 2008
Lucas Leiva today reiterated how his Liverpool teammates intend to finish top of Group D by beating PSV Eindhoven this evening.
The Reds are already assured of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after taking 11 points from a possible 15 in the group stages, but the versatile midfielder insists they will be going all out to take top spot in order to be sure of playing the second leg of the next round at Anfield.
"It's not clear who we will play in the next round, because there is a lot to be decided in the other games," said Lucas, who has picked up five caps for the Brazil senior side and has also captained his country at under-20 level.
"We know how important it will be for us to play at Anfield, especially the second game of the next round, so that's why we have come here to win.
"We have to try to win against PSV Eindhoven because we really want to finish first."
Lucas also responded to recent criticisms from the crowd after two successive 0-0 stalemates in the league, saying: "It was a difficult time in that particular game against Fulham. We were playing at home and couldn't score.
"I just want to worry about what we are doing as a team.
"As I said before, I just want to improve my performance and help the team stay at the top of the Premier League, and hopefully we can win our group in the Champions League too."
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AGGER: NO MOTIVATION NEEDED TONIGHT Steve Hunter 09 December 2008
Daniel Agger insists Liverpool will not be taking things lightly against PSV Eindhoven despite the fact that qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League is already secured.
With Sami Hyypia ineligible for the group stages of the competition, the Danish international is expected to return to Rafael Benitez's starting line-up in Holland tonight.
The Reds number five claims the team will not be resting on their laurels and said there will be no motivation needed ahead of the match.
"It's easy to say this is just another game but every one is important to us," Agger told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Being already through is a great thing because there's no pressure on us but we want to win every game and that is what we will try to do tonight.
"I enjoy playing no matter what, whether it be the Carling Cup or the Champions League. To play for Liverpool is always a big thing for me.
"I want to win every game and play well in every game. I don't need a lot of motivation because to play for Liverpool is the biggest part of it.
"As a team we don't need any motivation for this game. We need to give 100 per cent every time we play because the other teams are good enough to beat us.
"Any Dutch team is quite good technically and PSV like to play the ball on the ground and keep possession, but we've played them quite a few times in recent years and have got some good results."
As for the team Liverpool could face in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Dane insists he's given it no thought.
"I think we have to focus on doing this job properly and then think about the next stage after that," added the former Brondby defender
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Good to see both Lucas and Agger positive for tonight's game, as I'm sure both will be involved, Agger more so than Lucas I suspect.
Really important to win so we can have the second leg at Anfield, we all know what happened against Chelsea
Dirk Kuyt has been left behind on Merseyside Ad, due to an injury he picked up at Blackburn on Saturday.
Made me laugh yesterday on LFC TV when the reporter was in Holland going through the list of players who hadn't made the trip to Eindhoven, Degen injured, Kuyt injured, Torres injured etc, and then he said "Jermaine Pennant, well, he hasn't been selected for this trip"
Well what a surprise !!!