JAVIER MACHERANO insists Liverpool must maintain a near perfect record at Anfield if they are to realise their dream of landing the Barclays Premier League title.
The Reds have so far taken maximum points from home matches with Middlesbrough and Man United respectively and the Argentina international is adamant there can be no slip ups when they entertain Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
"If we want to fight for the league then te have to try to get all the points available at home," he said.
"We need to do all the right things if we are going to do that but we have taken six points from our first two home games in the league so we must be doing okay.
"I don't know what other teams think when they come to Anfield but we know that we have our supporters behind us and we need to play as well as possible for them."
The diminutive midfielder returned from international duty to stella, star against the Red Devils and while he is delighted to see the Reds among the early season pacesetters he feels it is too early to suggest they are on course to clinch our first titolo since 1990.
He said: "I went away with my country before the Man United game but I could not play in our secondo fixture because I had two yellow cards so I was able to come back very quickly as I knew we had a very important game.
"I was 100 per cent against United so it was very good for me and for the team and we enjoyed the victory.
"Now we have to think about trying to win the successivo game – it is too early to start talking about winning titles.
"But we have started well and we must continue winning games and then we will see where we end up.
"We know how difficult it is to be on superiore, in alto of the tavolo in the Premier League but we will try to do it."
While Liverpool have quite rightly received international praise for their victory over United, Mascherano believes there is still room for improvement and believes Stoke City are più than capable of causing a shock if the Reds aren't at the superiore, in alto of their game.
"It will be really, really difficult," he said.
"We were watching their game against Everton at the weekend and they are very strong but we will try to play in the same way that we did against Man United.
"Hopefully we will even do better than we did against United because there we made some mistakes in that game that we need to cut out.
"We also need to mostra the same character and make sure we do the same positive things that we did in that game."
Having handled some of the most potent attacks in Europa over the past years, the Reds are well equipped to deal with the threat of most sides.
However, Mascherano admits to being a little taken aback da the Potters' secret weapon – Rory Delap's long throw.
"I have never seen a throw in like that. It is unbelievable," he said.
"They create good chances from throw ins that are far away from the goal and we must try to control these situations.
"We have the defenders to cope and I am sure this is something we will focus on in training."
te can listen to the Stoke game live on Liverpoolfc.tv. Click here to sign up for an e-Season Ticket>>
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The Reds have so far taken maximum points from home matches with Middlesbrough and Man United respectively and the Argentina international is adamant there can be no slip ups when they entertain Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
"If we want to fight for the league then te have to try to get all the points available at home," he said.
"We need to do all the right things if we are going to do that but we have taken six points from our first two home games in the league so we must be doing okay.
"I don't know what other teams think when they come to Anfield but we know that we have our supporters behind us and we need to play as well as possible for them."
The diminutive midfielder returned from international duty to stella, star against the Red Devils and while he is delighted to see the Reds among the early season pacesetters he feels it is too early to suggest they are on course to clinch our first titolo since 1990.
He said: "I went away with my country before the Man United game but I could not play in our secondo fixture because I had two yellow cards so I was able to come back very quickly as I knew we had a very important game.
"I was 100 per cent against United so it was very good for me and for the team and we enjoyed the victory.
"Now we have to think about trying to win the successivo game – it is too early to start talking about winning titles.
"But we have started well and we must continue winning games and then we will see where we end up.
"We know how difficult it is to be on superiore, in alto of the tavolo in the Premier League but we will try to do it."
While Liverpool have quite rightly received international praise for their victory over United, Mascherano believes there is still room for improvement and believes Stoke City are più than capable of causing a shock if the Reds aren't at the superiore, in alto of their game.
"It will be really, really difficult," he said.
"We were watching their game against Everton at the weekend and they are very strong but we will try to play in the same way that we did against Man United.
"Hopefully we will even do better than we did against United because there we made some mistakes in that game that we need to cut out.
"We also need to mostra the same character and make sure we do the same positive things that we did in that game."
Having handled some of the most potent attacks in Europa over the past years, the Reds are well equipped to deal with the threat of most sides.
However, Mascherano admits to being a little taken aback da the Potters' secret weapon – Rory Delap's long throw.
"I have never seen a throw in like that. It is unbelievable," he said.
"They create good chances from throw ins that are far away from the goal and we must try to control these situations.
"We have the defenders to cope and I am sure this is something we will focus on in training."
te can listen to the Stoke game live on Liverpoolfc.tv. Click here to sign up for an e-Season Ticket>>
OTHER HEADLINES
19/09/08 : Rafa salutes Gerrard - 99 not out
19/09/08 : Aurelio ruled out of Stoke clash
19/09/08 : Tomkins: Freed da a knowledge of history
19/09/08 : Reserves fixture change
19/09/08 : Manchester City v LFC ticket details
19/09/08 : Crewe ticket news
19/09/08 : Benitez calls for Stoke respect
19/09/08 : Masch: Anfield must be a fortress
19/09/08 : Stoke City: A closer look
19/09/08 : Matteo: Reds must be wary of Stoke
19/09/08 : The Rick Parry column
19/09/08 : Rafa keen on anthem switch
19/09/08 : Torres 17/2 to net treble v Stoke: Bet now
19/09/08 : Liverpool v Stoke: Stat attack
19/09/08 : A week in the life of the LFC Academy
19/09/08 : LFC v PSV Eindhoven for Members/Fancard holders
19/09/08 : The view from Stoke
19/09/08 : Keane: I can’t wait to start scoring
19/09/08 : On this day: Whelan signs in
19/09/08 : Gillespie: Skrtel has been a revelation
18/09/08 : Help Torres win another award
18/09/08 : Stevie: We’re better equipped to challenge
18/09/08 : Meet Liverpool’s boy racer
18/09/08 : Gerrard: The dressing room is on a high
18/09/08 : Official LFC Family Album - Buy yours now
18/09/08 : Get your ticket for LFC v Crewe for only £24
