Pepe Reina: Liverpool must start next season better
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes that his team needs to start the next season on the front foot to get back their top four status in the league.
The former European Champions are once again not in line to claim a place in the top four, and will not be able to take part in the elite European club competition UEFA Champions League. The Reds did not have the best start to the season, and lost number
of points in the first few months of the season.
A lot of it was down to the new manager in charge Roy Hodgson who had taken over before the start of the season. The former Fulham boss found it too bigger task to manage a club with the expectations of fans such high. He never found his feet and in the
end conceded that he was never really accepted by Liverpool fans as one of their own.
Former Liverpool boss and player Kenny Dalglish eventually took over and tried to lead a recovery. It did not happen instantly but things did get better since Dalglish took over, and Liverpool after spending some time in relegation zone in early part of
the season, look set to finish 6th. The reign of King Kenny has been hailed by the Liverpool faithful as well as the team; the Scot guided his team not just back into the top half. But also masterminded big wins against Chelsea, Manchester United
and more recently against Manchester City.
Liverpool were given a stern test by the Premier League title challengers Arsenal on Sunday, and thanks to a late penalty by Dirk Kuyt they managed to get a point from the gunners.
Reina believes that the revival is heartening, but Liverpool needs to make sure that they do not drop any unnecessary points against the teams from lower down the table.
The Spanish international said that performing well against just the big teams is not enough, and in fact it is no secret that beating teams down the table is much easier and somehow Liverpool fails to finish them off.
Liverpool’s number one in goal said that premier League season is a 10 month long campaign, and it is the consistency of every team that takes them all the way.
“If we get the balance right, we’ll be a lot, lot closer to where we want to be,” added the Spaniard, whose team have lost to Blackpool, West Ham and West Brom under Dalglish.
“We started this season and the last one not the best. Next time, we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
While commenting on the time sine Dalglish has taken over the club, Reina said that things have certainly improved. He added that beating big teams was a good lift for the whole team. But at the same time the whole team needs to make sure that they repeat
the performances in other games as well.
The Spanish goalkeeper said that Dalglish is not just a legend by name, but also by trade. He added that Kenny Dalglish understands the game to its core, and also has fantastic man management abilities.
Pepe Reina insists that things for Liverpool are looking up, and they would have to start next season with a positive frame of mind and they should be able to get back into the top four of Premier League.