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LIVERPOOL FC: RIISE SPEAKS TO .TV ABOUT THE NEW SEASON

/noticias.info/ Liverpoolfc.tv caught up with Norwegian ace John Arne Riise to preview the new Premiership season and he tells us why the squad are confident that this can be a good and successful season.

The last time Liverpool won at Middlesbrough was March 2002 when Riise himself scored the winner and he is hoping for a similar outcome on Saturday.

Liverpoolfc.tv: John, an impressive start to the season for Liverpool so far?

John Arne Riise: Yeah, there has been some important games during the pre-season and we have scored a lot of goals and kept some clean sheets as well which is good for the confidence. I think the main thing is we are scoring goals which is important to win games. It's always good to win games and score a lot of goals but I think the main thing is we improve team wise and we work hard as a team. It helps if more players score goals and Steven Gerrard has scored a lot of goals already so it's looking good.

You've started the season quite sharply so how are you feeling going into the new campaign?

A short holiday but I'm feeling good and looking forward to the start of the season. The games have come early but it's good for us to play more games during pre-season.

Now it's the Premiership season starting on Saturday and the first game away at Middlesbrough?

It's not an easy game by any means and I'll admit I don't like going there to play. We just have to start well and go over there and get a good result.

The last time Liverpool won at Middlesbrough you scored the winner in a 2-1 win?

Yeah I remember that, I always remember my goals. It's always hard to get a win there but we have done it before so we can do it again. It's important we get a good start to the season and if we get a good start then anything can happen. We have to play as a team and work hard and score some more goals.

Middlesbrough are a real threat in attack and they have added a new striker in Yakubu?

Yeah he is a lively striker and he is hard to play against but we have some good centre halves who can cope with him hopefully. We just have to play as a team and if we can do that then hopefully we can win.

Now as far as the Premiership season is concerned I think it's fair to say the away form has got to improve, hopefully starting Saturday?

Yes from last season we have to improve. In one way it's good to start away from home because if you can start with a win then that is good for the confidence. We know we will play well at home because we have the fans behind us. We are looking forward to it but we know it will be very hard to get a win at Middlesbrough.

Why do you think Liverpool were so inconsistent last season?

It's no excuse but we had a lot of injuries. That's not an excuse anyway but we didn't play as well as a team away from home. There were certain games we should have won easily but we just somehow managed to lose the game, so you just have to stick together and play as a team and that is what we are working on now.

There's been some reinforcements to the squad during the summer so do you think if you can stay clear of injuries there's a good squad at Liverpool to do well?

We have a good squad no doubt about that. I think there will be a lot of changes in the team at times this season because last year some players played 50 or 60 games which is hard to play well consistently at a high level all of the time. I think this year we have a bigger squad which will be good for the team and the players as we need some rest at times and it will keep everyone sharp. The players who the manager has brought in are good players and good professionals who have settled in well so it's looking good for us.

Two players who were missed last season at times were Steven Gerrard who was out just as the season had begun and Xabi Alonso out for three months?

Those two players are very important for us. We also missed Cisse as well who looks as though his scoring form is back for us. I think if we can keep all of the players more or less fit we can be a good team. Everyone knows that we are a good team but you need some luck along the way as well to stay near the top so we feel we can close the gap on Chelsea and the top teams and at the end of the season you never know what can happen.

You were one of the few players to escape serious injury last season so you must have been happy with your consistent form?

Yeah, the season before I wasn't happy with the way I played because I played well and then for three or four games I didn't play well. Last season was much better and I want to keep my consistency and try and play as well as possible. I played in more or less every game and I am a team player. If I play bad then as long as the team win then it doesn't matter but I want to play well in every game for Liverpool.

You scored eight goals last season equalling your best ever tally for Liverpool, do you feel you can score a lot more this season?

It depends where I'm playing but I want to improve my scoring so hopefully I can reach double figures this year. Then again I just want to play well for the team and improve my weaknesses and my strengths so if I play as a winger I want to score more goals.

Your versatility gives the manager something different as you play left back, left midfield and you even had a go at centre half against Tottenham last season?

Yeah I enjoyed that! I mean it's good to play in different games in different positions as it gives myself more options as well as the manager so I'm just hoping I can play as many games as I did last season and improve my form.

I suppose the big question for the team this season is how do you follow winning the European Cup?

We won the big one but I think I speak for everyone that the big one we want to win is the Premiership title. It might be this year you never know but within the next few years we are going to be very close. We need a good start but we know every game will be tough. Even playing against the smaller teams will be tough because they know they are playing the European champions and want to do well. We will stick together and do our best and we are working hard. notas_de_prensa_archivo