22.08.2004 - Rafa: Gerrard can get better

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes Steven Gerrard can become an even better player if the Liverpool team around him continue to improve.

Gerrard was Liverpool's clear choice as the club's 2003-4 Player of the Season, and his consistently outstanding performances were widely regarded as being the key to Liverpool qualifying for this year's Champions League.

Though with a better team around him, Benitez is confident that his captain can improve even more, and he also hopes that Gerrard continues his recent run of goalscoring form which has seen him find the net three times in as many competitive games so far this season.

Benitez said: "Steven is a very important player. For me it is important that he plays well and scores a lot of goals, but around him we must have a good team. If you have only one player it is not enough. If you have a good team around Gerrard perhaps he will be better."

Gerrard was again impressive against Man City yesterday, creating the first goal for Baros, and scoring the second himself as Liverpool came from a goal down to record their first league win of the season.

And thanks to his double strike against Graz two weeks ago, the Reds are firm favourites to make it through to the group stage of the Champions League, where Benitez will be hoping Gerrard carries his form onto the European stage.

Meanwhile, Gerrard's probable new midfield parter Xabi Alonso completed his move from Real Sociedad on Friday.

Alonso has been handed the number 14 shirt while fellow Spaniard Luis Garcia, who also sealed a move to Anfield, will wear the number 10 shirt.