Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool must use the frustration of their agonising FA Cup final 2-1 defeat against Chelsea to make a stronger challenge in the Premier League next season.
“We have been superb in the cup competitions. The players deserve a lot of credit for getting to two finals (Liverpool won the League Cup this season) but our league form hasn’t been good enough,” Gerrard said.
“We have been two different teams in the league and the cups this season.
“The players need to take responsibility for the poor league showing. It is as simple as that.
“With the players in the dressing room we shouldn’t be eighth in the league.”
Kean vows to fight on at Rovers
Under-fire Blackburn boss Steve Kean claims he will not quit even if Rovers are relegated this season as his side prepare for a crunch clash with in-form Wigan today.
Kean, who has been heavily criticised by Blackburn fans this season, refuses to contemplate his Rovers team competing in the second-tier of English football next season.
“I definitely want to be here and I expect to be here,” Kean said.
“The target for us is to make sure we’re in the division we want to be in which is the top division.
“I do expect to be here even if relegated. But I don’t expect the club to be relegated.”
Valencia sign promising Viera
Valencia announced yesterday they had signed highly-rated Spanish Under-21 striker Jonathan Viera from second division outfit Las Palmas.
The 22-year-old, who has scored eight times in 27 games for Las Palmas this season, signed a five-year contract though the transfer fee was not disclosed.
Viera, who was also reportedly being tracked by Barcelona, can look forward to a maiden Champions League campaign next term as Valencia are certain of finishing third in the Primera Liga.
I will be fit for Munich – Luiz
Chelsea defender David Luiz is confident of being fit for the Champions League final.
The Blues are facing a centre-back crisis for the May 19 showpiece against Bayern Munich, with John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic both suspended and Luiz and Gary Cahill in a race against time to recover from hamstring injuries.
Luiz said: “Every day, I have had treatment and am going through hard training so that, in Munich, I can play.
“I am doing everything I can for this game. It is a dream (to play).
“I think my fitness will be good and I will be fit for Munich.”
Ben Arfa back in Blanc’s plans
France coach Laurent Blanc told television station TF1 yesterday that Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa has played himself back into contention for a place in his squad at Euro 2012.
“I have not waited until his most recent performances to start following Hatem,” Blanc said.
“I can remember when he was recovering from his injury at Clairefontaine and nobody was thinking about Ben Arfa.
“It is very nice of his coach (Alan Pardew) to say that Laurent Blanc should take him to the Euros but he rarely picked him at the start of the season.
“He waited a long time before picking him, but now I would say he is a contender again.”
Don’t boycott Euro games – Klitschko
Ukrainian world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has urged western politicians not to follow appeals for a boycott of June’s European championships in his homeland, but instead come to Euro 2012 matches.
Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych is coming under increasing pressure over the imprisonment of the former opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, with governments of EU countries threatening to boycott Euro 2012.
“Your displeasure at the violation of human rights would then speak directly to the Ukrainian rulers,” Klitschko told German news magazine Focus.
“That would definitely be more effective than to boycott the football championships.”
Voeller may stick with interim duo
Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voeller says interim coaches Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski could take charge on a full-time basis after a successful end to the season.
A 4-1 win at Nuremberg on Saturday clinched fifth place in the Bundesliga and an automatic berth in the group stage of the Europa League next term.
After taking over from Robin Dutt on April 1, Hyypia and Lewandowski guided the club to four wins and two draws.
“When you pick up points like that, then it is a positive argument,” Voeller said.
“And when you also see how the pair were accepted by the team, then you can imagine continuing with both of them.”