Kuyt - Hard work starts now

Dutch striker delighted to see Reds three points clear

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 29th December 2008

Kuyt - Hard work starts now

Kuyt: Just the beginning

I really enjoyed the game and it caps a good Christmas period in which we have picked up six very important points and scored eight goals along the way

Dirk Kuyt
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Dirk Kuyt admits 'the hard work starts now' after Liverpool ended the year top of the league.

The 28-year-old was preferred to Robbie Keane as a lone striker in the Reds' 5-1 annihilation of Newcastle United and felt it was the perfect way to end an impressive festive period.

"It's great to be top at the end of the year," he told the club's official website.

"But it's just the beginning for us. We need to step up every week and in every game and try to perform as well as that in the next match.

"I enjoyed playing up front again. Unfortunately I couldn't get my goal but I'd prefer to play in a team like this and win 5-1, than score every week somewhere else.

"I really enjoyed the game and it caps a good Christmas period in which we have picked up six very important points and scored eight goals along the way."

Red Storm

Liverpool raced to a two-goal lead at St James' Park courtesy of Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia goals - only to let Newcastle snatch a lifeline through David Edgar's header in first-half stoppage-time.

Kuyt was unhappy to see the Magpies get back into it but felt the Reds raised their game in the second period and could have easily made it an even bigger mauling.

"It was a great result and we could have scored even more," he said. "We started the game really well.

"We missed a lot of chances at the beginning but after that Stevie (Gerrard) scored a great goal from a nice assist from Yossi (Benayoun).

"After that we continued to play well, got another goal and were really unlucky to concede just before half-time. But I think we stepped it up again in the second half and it was a well deserved result."

Captain marvel

Kuyt also praised Liverpool skipper, Gerrard, who produced another customary man-of-the-match performance.

"Stevie was great, but he always is," he added.

"He scored two goals and got two assists. He is a great captain and showed once again how he likes to lead by example - it's not just this game that he does it, he does it every game. He's very important to us."