After Aston Villa’s Sacking, Steven Gerrard Sends A ‘Exciting’ Message To Liverpool

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool can benefit from the World Cup break and have a’strong, exciting’ second half of the season..

Jurgen Klopp’s squad is currently training in Dubai in preparation for their Carabao Cup match against Manchester City next Thursday, followed by a return to Premier League action with a Boxing Day trip to Aston Villa. The Reds were invited to compete in the Dubai Super Cup, with friendlies against Lyon (a 3-2 loss on Sunday) and AC Milan rounding out the pre-season schedule..

The forced pause is hoped to be a natural conclusion to a disappointing first half of the season, with Liverpool having had their worst start to a league season under Klopp and needing to make up ground quickly in the top-four race. Last season, the Reds played every possible game – 63 in total – as they competed on all four fronts, and the fatigue that followed the squad through a rushed summer appeared to have hampered their start to the new season.

As a result, the six-week break from competitive football will be welcomed by Klopp and his team as they rest and reset..

And Gerrard, who was fired as Villa manager in October, believes the’second pre-season’ will provide an opportunity for them to kick on come Christmas and have a strong finish to the season..

Yes, it is [like a second pre-season],” Gerrard explained to Liverpoolfc.com. “It’s an opportunity to get a lot of work in on the training ground [and] reset a few things.

“I’m sure Jurgen and his staff are doing a lot of things tactically but [it’s] also an opportunity to have a much-needed rest. They’ve played a lot of football in recent years, and they were in every competition last year..

So, having a small pre-season before kicking a ball [and then] having this opportunity to rest and then have a second build-up, I’m hoping Liverpool comes out flying.

“I expect a really strong six months and finish to the season because important players have had the chance to rest and recover and the players [who have been] in the World Cup should come back full of confidence, in a good place, physically ready. I expect the Reds to finish the season strong and exciting..