Dirk predicting Suarez goal spree
Dirk Kuyt believes Luis Suarez is reaching top form once again at just the right time for Liverpool – and is tipping him to hit the goal trail in the remainder of the campaign and enhance our chances of further success.
The Uruguay striker found the net with a sublime effort in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Stoke City to take his tally to 11 for the season so far.
And Kuyt believes Suarez is ready to pick up where he left off at Queens Park Rangers tonight - and over the rest of 2011-12.
"Luis had a great game against Stoke and scored a world-class goal," Kuyt told the Liverpool Echo.
"He was never far off but when you don't score people will talk about you.
"For me even when he wasn't scoring he was creating great chances and was a little bit unfortunate not to get some goals.
"I think Luis is right up there now and hopefully the goals will start to flow for him.
"I'm sure he will create more chances against QPR and if he can keep scoring goals that will help us even more."
Liverpool will look to bolster their prospects of a top-four finish by picking up a victory at Loftus Road.
The Reds are currently in seventh position in the Barclays Premier League, 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with the same number of matches still to play.
"Seventh isn't where we want to be," Kuyt admitted. "We want to be in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. That's a bit far away from us at the moment but everyone knows anything can happen in football.
"There is only one thing to do - focus on ourselves and take it one step at a time. We have to win our games.
"We have got a really important match against QPR. If we can get three points we could find ourselves a step closer to where we want to be."
Liverpool head into the game on the back of impressive home wins over Everton and Stoke - with the latter ensuring progress into the semi-final of the FA Cup.
The run began after a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland and Kuyt is eager for the Reds to maintain their momentum over the coming weeks.
"We were all really disappointed with what happened at Sunderland," said the Dutchman.
"But we knew a couple of days later we had another big game coming up. Maybe playing Everton was the perfect way to start everything off again.
"We played really well and then got another great result against Stoke so that's two on the bounce.
"We were all really happy to have reached the semis of the FA Cup. It's a great achievement to have got to Wembley for a second time this season.
"For me, Wembley is one of the greatest stadiums I have ever played in. The atmosphere our fans made at the final was unbelievable and winning the Carling Cup made us really proud to have achieved something for the club.
"To go back there and play another very important game for the club is something we are really looking forward to.
"Experience in life and football definitely helps you and the experience of playing a final together will help us to achieve more things.
"We want to ensure we get to another final but for now it's all about the league and trying to get as high as possible.
"We need to make sure this becomes a great run. We need to keep the momentum going and keep playing well until we have to play the next game in the FA Cup."
Kuyt was named as a substitute for the Anfield encounters with Everton and Stoke.
The 31-year-old will make his 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool if he figures at Loftus Road tonight - and he's determined to make the most of any chance he gets to impress Kenny Dalglish.
"I was very disappointed not to start against Everton or Stoke," Kuyt said.
"I keep trying to convince the manager he needs to pick me. I'm feeling physically very strong.
"I'm training well so I'm just waiting for the manager's call. Hopefully it will be on Wednesday night.
"It's almost impossible to play every game but when you are the type of player I am, you want to play more games and be more involved.
"You can talk a lot about things but at the end of the day you need to speak with your feet and show it on the pitch."
Liverpool will face a QPR side who find themselves in the relegation zone having picked up just five points from a possible 24 since Mark Hughes was appointed as manager in January.
Nonetheless, Kuyt knows they will provide a stern test.
"I'm expecting a tough game," he said. "When we played them at Anfield we only won 1-0 and they showed that day they are a good team.
"They have new players and a new manager. They are in the relegation zone and will be desperate to get the points.
"It will be another battle like the game against Stoke. But at the end of the day it's about us.
"I believe in our strengths and the quality of our team. If we play the way we can play, especially like we played in the last couple of games, then we should be fine."