Liverpool begins most critical month of season
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-13 21:16

Liverpool is about to begin its most important month of the season, starting with Saturday's match against Tottenham at Anfield.

Fourth-place Spurs are only a point behind Liverpool _ 41 to 40 _ and that could mean bad news for the Reds because Tottenham should be motivated to take over third place.

Also in the next month, Liverpool faces league games at Manchester United and Chelsea, and a home match with Arsenal. Add to this three difficult away matches _ Portsmouth in the FA Cup and Wigan in the league _ and Benfica on February 16 in the first leg of the second round of the Champions League, and it's easy to see why the next month is critical.

"The games we have coming up are all going to be really important for us," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "We're toward the top of the table at the moment and we want to stay there.

"We need to approach all of these games with confidence because we know we can beat any team."

Tottenham will be motivated after being knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend in a 3-2 loss to League Championship club Leicester.

"They (Tottenham) are a good side and deserve their place in the top four," Benitez said. "They are serious contenders to end the season in a Champions League place."

Tottenham, under manager Martin Jol, may be England's most improved team, and never lacks confidence. They drew 0-0 earlier in the season with Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

"We have the players to play football and we have to take the game to Liverpool _ sometimes you have to try and put teams like Liverpool on the back foot," Jol said. "You want to get the initiative in the game and create opportunities, otherwise you'll have no chance."

Liverpool beefed up its squad on Thursday, signing central defender Daniel Agger from Danish club Brondby. On the same day, Tottenham unloaded three players to Portsmouth for about 7 million pounds (US$12.4 million; euro10.2 million) _ Sean Davis, Pedro Mendes and Noe Pamarot.

Liverpool almost joined Tottenham in exiting the FA Cup, but rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat Luton 5-3.

"We are getting good results against the top sides and not slipping up against the smaller ones," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "We are emerging as challengers for the title. There is still a big gap to reduce but, as the season goes on and we keep getting the results, our confidence will get bigger and bigger."

In other Premier League games Saturday, it's: Manchester City vs. Manchester United; Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough; Aston Villa vs. West Ham; Charlton vs. Birmingham; Fulham vs. Newcastle; Liverpool vs. Tottenham; Portsmouth vs. Everton; and Blackburn vs. Bolton.

On Sunday, it's: Wigan vs. West Bromwich Albion; and Sunderland vs. Chelsea.

Saturday's other key game is the Manchester derby. The two drew 1-1 earlier in the season at Old Trafford.

United has drawn all three of its games since January 1, one each in the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. A victory at Manchester City would cut Chelsea's lead atop the Premier League to 10 points, at least until Chelsea plays last-place Sunderland on Sunday.

"In derbies, form goes out of the window," Manchester City midfielder Lee Croft said. "It's a one-off game and everyone will give everything they've got to beat Man United."

Man United has reinforced its defense by signing Nemanja Vidic from Spartak Moscow and Patrice Evra from Monaco for about 12 million pounds (US$21 million; euro18 million). Only Evra is likely to play Saturday.

City manager Stuart Pearce hasn't decided who he'll play up front. Andy Cole, Darius Vassell and Antoine Sibierski are all fit, but Pearce must also consider Robbie Fowler, who marked his first start of the season by scoring a hat trick in Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe.

Spanish winger Albert Riera could make his debut for City after his loan move from Espanyol. City will be without injured Claudio Reyna (broken ankle) and Danny Mills (broken shin), with Ben Thatcher and David Sommeil suspended.