Gerrard urges caution over title bid

19th November 2008

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the team's fine start to the campaign has raised hopes of a first league championship since 1990.

Rafael Benitez's side lie second in the Barclays Premier League table, level on points with leaders Chelsea, but Gerrard knows there is a long way to go before the destination of the silverware will be determined.

"It's nice but it raises expectations," he told Champions magazine when asked about talk of Liverpool being genuine title contenders. "It's important to stay humble. We know we're a good team, we know we're getting closer to a title challenge - we can say that. But we've got to prove we can stay in the race to the end."

He added: "I can understand why people are saying it. We've gone down a couple of times by goals, we haven't given up and we've managed to turn games around.

"So now they're saying we've got title credentials."

The 28-year-old is more than used to dealing with pressure situations, though, having spent his entire professional career at Anfield.

"It's Liverpool Football Club. You've got to expect that and deal with it. Every single game we play there is pressure to win," he added.

"I've lived with it since I broke into the first team. But even more so now because the wait for the bread and butter is getting longer."