GOMES - BRING ON GERRARD

By Mighty Reds
February 23 2006

Nuno Gomes, the Benfica striker, hopes that Steven Gerrard will play in the return leg of their Champions League match at Anfield.

He was surprised that Steven wasn’t played in the first leg but wants to show that Benfica can beat Liverpool with a full strength team.

He said:

"We are aware that we will be facing a fit Steven Gerrard playing from the start, not just for the final minutes as in Lisbon," he added.

"We were a little surprised by that. I know Gerrard is one of the world's great players and the best in Liverpool's team.

"Maybe he was a little injured, but he seemed okay when he came on. They play very organised defensively and whatever players are involved it is the same.

"But I hope he plays at Anfield. That means that when we win people cannot say it was only because Gerrard was not playing."


He went on to say that the Anfield crowd hold no fear for him but that Liverpool were harder to beat than Manchester United.

"Our victory will help us get more confidence after some poor results. It will help us in our big match on Sunday against Porto," he said.

"And of course it will also help us at Anfield. We know that will be hard with their supporters behind them, and we are aware of how difficult their fans will make it for us. But we are experienced and used to such atmospheres.

"This victory also proved that our win over Manchester United was not just a lucky one. But Liverpool were much harder to play against than United."