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ESPNsoccernet: England |
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Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Liverpool striker Kuyt: I can be Kop legend
Dirk Kuyt believes he can step into Robbie Fowler's boots and become a
consistent goalscorer for Liverpool.
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| Dirk Kuyt celebrates in front of some woebegone Reading fans. (Empics) |
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The Dutchman scored 14 times last term, but the £9million striker aims to top
the 20-goal mark this time around.
He said: 'Players like Robbie and Michael Owen are known as some of the best
strikers Liverpool has ever had, and it's good for me to be able to have the
chance to join those names.
'I want to be seen as a Liverpool goalscorer, and now I can't wait to show
it.'
Kuyt has potentially two new strike partners following the arrivals of
Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin, who have effectively replaced Fowler and
Craig Bellamy, who both left Anfield this summer.
And Kuyt believes that having a full pre-season can only benefit his game,
after his transfer from Feyenoord disrupted his preparations last year.
Talking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: 'I'm sure I will get better this
season. Last year I didn't have a full pre-season or know the rest of the lads
or the club so well.
'Now I'm more settled and any difficulties when starting at a new club are
behind me. I can focus 100% on my football and I have a good feeling about this
season.'
He added: 'I scored a lot of goals in Holland, but England is totally
different because it's so much more difficult.
'I believe I can do here what I did in Holland, but I also think I can do
more for the team than just score goals. It's important for me to do whatever
job is asked, working hard or making assists.
'Last season was different for me, getting used to different partners in
attack and also playing against better defenders.
'The Premier League has some of the best defenders in the world and you need
to get used to that, but I'm looking forward to this season even more than
last.'
Kuyt also plans to become more adaptable given the varied playing styles among
Rafael Benitez's strikeforce this season.
He said: 'Andriy and Fernando are different strikers to Robbie Fowler and
Craig, so I may play in a different role.
'Fernando likes to come deeper for the ball, so if I play alongside him
there's the chance for me to play higher up the park, which I enjoy. That's more
how I was used to playing with Feyenoord.
'It all depends who I play alongside, of course, but what's most important is
to play, win the games and help as many players as possible to score goals.'