Liverpool skipper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steven-Gerrard-c34196 believes that the Reds FA Cup semi-final clash with Everton on Saturday, will present the opportunity to the players to leave their mark on the club.
The eagerly anticipated Merseyside derby is scheduled to be played at Wembley, on the 14th of April.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809, who have had a beleaguered Premier League campaign this season, will be eyeing an English domestic cup double by winning the FA Cup. Earlier in February, the Anfield team hoisted the Carling Cup, by beating Cardiff City in the final.
Gerrard thinks that the match against Everton can prove to be a defining moment in the Liverpool players careers, and was convinced that the goal scorer is likely to become a Liverpool celebrity.
"It's one of those occasions that's set up so well for heroes. Big games, big heroes - let's hope they're in red shirts." He said.
Liverpool have played Everton twice this season, with the Reds getting the better of their local rivals on both the occasions. However, Everton are a point ahead of Kenny Dalglish’s side in the league table, and have seen a string of good results in the
last two months.
The 31 year old refused to be let down by the Reds nose dive in the league, and pressed the enormity of the semi-final fixture on his players.
'This is not only a semi-final is it? It is a semi-final against Everton,' he added. 'For everyone at this club and everyone at Everton this is massive.”
“I don't think any player on the pitch will be thinking about league position once the game starts.”
In FA Cup competitions, the two teams have squared off against each other 22 times, with Liverpool bagging nine wins and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Everton-c13019 coming out victorious on 7 occasions. Six matches ended in a draw.
In all competitions, Liverpool boost a better head to head record against the Toffees, with 87 wins to 66 loses.
The Englishman admitted that the young players are likely to be nervous ahead of the match, and was optimistic that the senior members of the team will guide them through the crucial fixture.
“It's my responsibility and that of the other experienced players in the dressing room to help the younger lads that are going to be involved.”
The match comes at the eve of the Hillsborough anniversary on the 15th of April, in which 96 people lost their lives 23 years ago in a stadium tragedy. The midfielder appealed to both the sides to play the game in good spirit, to honour those
who lost their lives in the calamity.
“It does fall on this weekend (of the Hillsborough anniversary) and everyone does need to pay their respects.”
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