Bellamy relishing cup battles
Craig Bellamy today looked forward to a hectic month which sees Liverpool face both Manchester clubs in crucial cup competitions and declared: 'This is why you play for this club'.
With the two legged Carling Cup semi-finals with Manchester City, an FA Cup 4th round date with Manchester United and three crucial league games, Kenny Dalglish's charges are ready for the big challenge that lies ahead.
Bellamy admits he and the squad can't wait for the games.
"This is why you play for Liverpool and this is what it brings," Bellamy told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"It's great for the supporters but I'm much happier playing and being involved in it than watching it as a fan because when you play I find it a lot more fun because I can try to do something about the result on the field.
"This is part of playing for this great club. It's not just playing Man United or Man City, it's when you travel anywhere because we are expected to win and with the crowd we have following us everywhere it makes it that more special."
First up on Wednesday night is the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and the Welsh ace is hoping the Reds can give themselves a good platform to take back to Anfield.
Bellamy believes the Anfield factor could play a key role in the tie, but acknowledges the Reds can ill afford a repeat of the 3-0 scoreline they suffered at the Etihad Stadium in their first outing of 2012 last week.
"We are very fortunate these days that we get to see so much football and we know a lot about every Premier League team, so we know a lot about City," said Bellamy.
"I am fortunate to have played for them so I have an insight into certain players that were there.
"For me I didn't believe the 3-0 scoreline was quite correct and this is not just me with my Liverpool head on, but if I was watching the game as a neutral we had 66 per cent of possession which is a lot for an away side, especially against a team of Man City's calibre.
"It was all about taking opportunities. Pepe made a mistake for the first goal but the other goals came from a corner and a penalty.
"We were knocking on the door. Stewart (Downing) had a great chance and in the second half we had one or two chances we could have made more of.
"It's a two-legged match and we have to make sure we are still in the tie. We have the second leg at Anfield and this club knows all about two-legged games, so if we can get it back to Anfield still very much in the tie we will have a great chance of getting to Wembley.
"This club is used to getting to semi-finals and finals and all we can do is give it our best and see where it takes us."
City crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday when they lost 3-2 to rivals Manchester United in a fiery affair at the Etihad, but Bellamy doesn't expect Roberto Mancini's side to be too downhearted when the face the Reds.
He added: "They have so many players with quality. The way they fought back to 3-2 I think the atmosphere in the dressing room would have been a lot more positive than negative afterwards.
"They played very well and gave everything they had.
"I have been impressed with City this season. The tempo is a lot different to what they had last year and I feel they are a completely different team this season.
"David Silva has come into his own and everyone knew how talented he was. Sometimes it can take a while to come to terms with the Premier League but he has grasped it and been the outstanding performer. He is special.
"Yaya Toure is a key player for them but fortunately he is on international duty in the African Cup of Nations, so that is a positive for us."
Liverpool's No.39 came off the bench last week at the Etihad and was given a fantastic reception by the City fans who have a lot of respect for the job the striker did for them.
"I respect all of the clubs I have played for. I have always gave my all and I'd like them to think I gave my all for them," he said.
"I was very grateful for the opportunity to play there and it was nice they acknowledged that."
Bellamy was also keen to express his gratitude of thanks to Kenny Dalglish and the Anfield medical team for protecting him and helping him be involved in the majority of the games so far this season.
He said: "I have been available for every single game which has been great for me. At the start of the season a lot of players set themselves targets such as goal tallies but I don't have any of that. I just want to be available for every single game because my fitness has been my biggest problem all of my career.
"I've had six knee operations and I missed a whole season with my hernia once so a lot of football has been taken away from me through injury, so I'm at the stage of my career where I just want to be available and want to be able to have a chance of playing every game.
"The manager and the medical staff at Liverpool have given me that chance and I am very grateful to them for that.
"I've always enjoyed my football and it's great playing for Liverpool under Kenny. I always try and work as hard as I can and do my best for this club."