Liverpool desperate to bounce back at Tynecastle, says Gerrard

Published on Tuesday 21 August 2012 01:10

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard says there is no reason to panic after their surprise opening-day defeat at West Brom, and is looking forward to his team showing their true worth against Hearts at Tynecastle on Thursday.

The Reds had Daniel Agger sent off as they lost 3-0 at The Hawthorns but Gerrard believes it is essential everyone looks beyond the result. “The feeling after was one of total shock with the result. It was never a 3-0 game,” said the England international. “I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn’t work out that way. In football you can be left feeling hard done by. It’s not the start we wanted but it’s no time for panic. It’s only the first game and it was one bad day at the office. We’ve got to look at the bigger picture. There’s been so much hope around the place and rightly so.”

Gerrard added: “After a 3-0 defeat everyone is going to be concerned. It’s important that the likes of myself and the other experienced players take responsibility for a poor defeat. We have to put it behind us. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and bounce back against Hearts (in the Europa League) on Thursday night. We have to react in the right manner and look to put things right in the coming games.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has signed a new long-term contract at Anfield. The move will end speculation over the 27-year-old’s future after he was linked with clubs such as Manchester City and Fiorentina over the summer. Skrtel has become a vital member of the Liverpool side since arriving in a £6million deal from Zenit St Petersburg in 2008. The Slovakia international was pictured on the Liverpool website signing the contract with managing director Ian Ayre at the club’s Melwood training ground.

Liverpool have given no details of the length of the deal. Skrtel, who was voted the club’s player of the season in 2011-12, said: “I’m happy because I am a part of one of the biggest clubs in the world. After last season there was a lot of talk about my future but I have to say that the first priority for me was always to sign a new deal with Liverpool. For me it’s a great thing to play for Liverpool. I am proud to play for Liverpool with these great players – probably some of the best players in the world. I hope I can create history at this club and that the fans will always remember me – that’s my target for the future.”

Skrtel, who has made 175 appearances for the Merseysiders, added: “I have been here almost four and a half years and I have enjoyed that time here. So there were no questions about whether to stay or to leave. A lot of things have changed, a new manager has come. I think we can start to make history and I want to be a part of that history.”

Taken from the Scotsman