Steven Gerrard believes that the Christmas period could prove pivotal to Liverpool's title hopes.
Midfield dynamo looking for fine festive form
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes that the Christmas period could prove pivotal to the club's title hopes.
The Reds currently lead the Premier League by just one point but will be hoping that a fairly favourable fixture list - a trip to Emirates Stadium aside - will allow them to cement their position at the top.
Anything less than nine points from games against Hull, Bolton and Newcastle will be unacceptable to the Anfield faithful, and Gerrard knows that entering the New Year as league leaders will send out a message of intent to their rivals.
"We're coming up to Christmas and that's when things really start to take shape," Gerrard told the club's official
LFC Magazine.
"The festive season might not be as congested as it has been in the past few years in terms of the number of games we're going to play, but the results are more critical this season than they've been for ages - because of where we find ourselves in the league."
Tests to come
Liverpool's position atop the table is a welcome sight for Kopites desperate to regain the title, but the nature of their wins so far this term has often been less than convincing.
It is a shortfall that Gerrard accepts - however the skipper insists that some lacklustre performances merely prove that his side are yet to hit top gear in their campaign.
"I don't really think we've played our best football this season," the 28-year-old admitted.
"Looking back at the first half of the season, there's a lot for us to be happy with.
"But the fact is that the hardest part of the season is still to come."
