The Liverpool winger defends his form for the Reds this season and says that he wants to play more frequently for the former English league champions in the Premier League….
After putting in a fantastic performance in Liverpool’s win over Manchester City in the Carling Cup semifinals, Downing is now prepared to put United to the sword with Liverpool. However the former Aston Villa winger has been at
the end of some harsh criticism from Liverpool’s fans after his slow start to the season as a whole.
Downing will be tested against Manchester United in their fourth round tie in the F.A Cup at Anfield but it still remains to be seen whether or not Kenny Dalglish will start with the Englishman or not.
Downing arrived at Liverpool after Dalglish and co. dished out 20 million pounds on the winger who had taken the spotlight at Villa Park. Statistics already show that the English winger has created 41 goal scoring chances for his
team mates in his 21 league appearances for the Merseyside giants but he has not hit goal scoring form as yet.
Downing said, "The media do build things up a lot more than we do here, but that's the way football is. I just get my head down - whatever is said is said, there's nothing you can do about it. I started quite brightly, then was
in and out, and now I'm starting to pick up form again.”
He added, "I want to play all the time but the only way I can do that is to play well. I've got to get my head down and work hard, and the last couple of weeks I'm pleased with how it's gone personally. As long as the manager is
happy with me, and the club and the players, then that's fine by me. The manager has been really good to me from the first day I came. He's given me lots of confidence - and it's the same with every other player.”
Dalglish will hope that Downing will hit a consistent run of form and contribute more effectively to Liverpool’s domestic as well as their cup campaign as they will need the 20 million pound man to fire on all cylinders if they
want to make it to a top four finish and win the Carling Cup final against Cardiff City.