Due to the expansion of Liverpool’s squad, Dirk Kuyt has to work harder to earn 90 minutes of football in a game this season.
“I'm disappointed to be out of the team,” Kuyt recently told the press in England.
“From childhood, I've always been disappointed when I'm not in the team because I'm desperate to be involved and make a good contribution.
“But it also makes me very determined too. I need to continue to prove myself, train as hard as possible and, when I do play, make sure my performance is of a high standard.”
Dirk Kuyt has appeared in 5 different matches in the English Premier League but he is yet to open his goal scoring account in that competition. In the League Cup, however, the Dutch man netted an important strike as Liverpool hanged on to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1.
Dirk Kuyt was part of Kenny Dalglish’s starting XI away to Stoke City but he got replaced by Andy Carroll inside the 67 minute of the match. Against Spurs in the league, he was an unused substitute.
Last weekend against Wolves, the striker started from the bench and subsequently came on for summer signing Jordan Henderson inside the final 20 minutes of the game. Dirk Kuyt understandably misses playing a full match but he knows what this rotation is all about at Liverpool.
“Competition is tough now but it's brilliant for the club that there are so many players to choose from now, top-class international players. The players realize at the end of the day you need more than 11 good players to be successful.
“When I first arrived here we had a very good, big squad but for the last two seasons before this one, we haven't had the depth that we did in the first three seasons.
“Someone like Craig Bellamy is a strong addition to what is already a very strong squad, and that can only be good for the team. We definitely have better quality now and more players to choose from as well.
“I think with the signings we've made, we have a great squad now so we should be ambitious and have confidence in ourselves.”
While several clubs around Europe are preparing to play in the UEFA Champions League or in the UEFA Europa League, there will be no football for Liverpool in midweek. The Merseyside Reds can keep their strength for this weekend’s rivalry match away to Everton.
“From childhood, I've always been disappointed when I'm not in the team because I'm desperate to be involved and make a good contribution.
“But it also makes me very determined too. I need to continue to prove myself, train as hard as possible and, when I do play, make sure my performance is of a high standard.”
Dirk Kuyt has appeared in 5 different matches in the English Premier League but he is yet to open his goal scoring account in that competition. In the League Cup, however, the Dutch man netted an important strike as Liverpool hanged on to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1.
Dirk Kuyt was part of Kenny Dalglish’s starting XI away to Stoke City but he got replaced by Andy Carroll inside the 67 minute of the match. Against Spurs in the league, he was an unused substitute.
Last weekend against Wolves, the striker started from the bench and subsequently came on for summer signing Jordan Henderson inside the final 20 minutes of the game. Dirk Kuyt understandably misses playing a full match but he knows what this rotation is all about at Liverpool.
“Competition is tough now but it's brilliant for the club that there are so many players to choose from now, top-class international players. The players realize at the end of the day you need more than 11 good players to be successful.
“When I first arrived here we had a very good, big squad but for the last two seasons before this one, we haven't had the depth that we did in the first three seasons.
“Someone like Craig Bellamy is a strong addition to what is already a very strong squad, and that can only be good for the team. We definitely have better quality now and more players to choose from as well.
“I think with the signings we've made, we have a great squad now so we should be ambitious and have confidence in ourselves.”
While several clubs around Europe are preparing to play in the UEFA Champions League or in the UEFA Europa League, there will be no football for Liverpool in midweek. The Merseyside Reds can keep their strength for this weekend’s rivalry match away to Everton.
