Gerrard eyes title as Liverpool face Hammers

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard still believes his side can win the Premier League this season as the Reds go into Saturday’s clash at West Ham hoping to close the three-point gap on leaders Manchester United.

A win would take Rafael Benitez’s team to the top of the table on goal difference, at least until United face Manchester City in Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford.

Since losing to Middlesbrough in February, Liverpool have won seven of their last eight matches to keep the pressure on United and Gerrard refuses to give up hope that the Reds can steal first place from their bitter rivals.

“We’re so close to doing it this season, I believe we can still nick it,” Gerrard said.

“I honestly believe that this team will win the Premier League — I believe I’ll get my hands on it.

“If I said ‘I don’t think we’re going to win it’, what would be the point of carrying on?”

With United holding a valuable game in hand, which they play at Wigan on Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team are in pole position to retain the title.

But, even though Gerrard accepts that his side are second favourites for what would be a first league title in 19 years, the England midfielder is convinced Liverpool will end that long barren run sooner rather than later.

“If we don’t (win it) and United close it out, then we’re going to have a right good go at it over the next three, four or five years,” Gerrard added in an interview with Liverpool FC magazine.

“I believe we’re too good not to win it — winning the title would mean the world to me.”

Liverpool may have to manage without influential Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso for their trip to east London.

The 28-year-old was stretchered off with a leg injury in last weekend’s 3-0 home win over Newcastle following an ugly foul by Joey Barton which earned the midfielder a red card.

But the likely loss of Alonso will be tempered by the news that Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano (ankle) and Spain striker Fernando Torres (hamstring) should return for the Upton Park fixture.

“Xabi is the main doubt for the weekend,” Benitez said. “He has been working and hopefully he will be better in a few days. He is improving but we have to wait.

“We’ll have to check him because it is more serious than Mascherano’s injury.”

West Ham start the weekend in seventh spot and with a place in Europe in their sights, but they only hold a slender one point lead over Manchester City, Fulham and Tottenham.

Gianfranco Zola’s side gained a goalless draw at Anfield on December 1 but the Italian is all too aware of the Reds’ threat in away games.

“In my opinion they are a team you’d rather play at their home,” he said. “If you look at their record away it must be one of the best in the Premier League.

“So it is a really tough match for us but my players are determined to beat one of the really top sides.”

Zola feels his young side will be able to draw inspiration from their performances against other top four sides earlier this season.

“We played Manchester United at home and Chelsea at home and we went very close and were unlucky,” he added.

“We keep trying as we lost against those teams but we learnt a lot from them and we are confident that Saturday is going to be a different game.”