Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is hoping that his side can use the momentum of their splendid victory over West Ham United in the FA Cup this week to turn round their utterly wretched form in the Premier League.
Liverpool visit the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and Southgate will be hoping that his side can end a desperate winless run of thirteen league games that stretches back to November.
"If I look over the season, that's how we were playing in August and September and the beginning of October," Southgate told Sky Sports News earlier, discussing Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over the Hammers.
"That's how we played at West Ham in the FA Cup. It's been coming. At Manchester City we had good chances to get points there and against Wigan at home we started the game well. There have been positive aspects of our performances lately.
"We're hard to play against and that was the starting point of the recovery and now the team are growing in confidence and looking forward to this game. That might not have been the case a few weeks ago.
"It's great to go into a game like this in an optimistic mood because we know that we've got to be at our very best, and Liverpool have to have a bit of an off day, but that happens in football and the way that we're playing now, the way that we're hard to beat means the players are looking forward to the game and that's the most important thing."
Boro have made tentative improvements in recent games, losing just one of their last five matches in all competitions. However, Southgate is well aware that they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to overcome the men who beat Real Madrid in Spain this week.
"They've got some world-class players and they beat Real Madrid in the week so it will be a huge challenge for us, but one we go into in a good frame of mind," he added.
"They are an outstanding team and it is an outstanding football club and has been historically, but that brings pressure.
"Every club, every team in every division has pressure of one sort or another."
Liverpool visit the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and Southgate will be hoping that his side can end a desperate winless run of thirteen league games that stretches back to November.
"If I look over the season, that's how we were playing in August and September and the beginning of October," Southgate told Sky Sports News earlier, discussing Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over the Hammers.
"That's how we played at West Ham in the FA Cup. It's been coming. At Manchester City we had good chances to get points there and against Wigan at home we started the game well. There have been positive aspects of our performances lately.
"We're hard to play against and that was the starting point of the recovery and now the team are growing in confidence and looking forward to this game. That might not have been the case a few weeks ago.
"It's great to go into a game like this in an optimistic mood because we know that we've got to be at our very best, and Liverpool have to have a bit of an off day, but that happens in football and the way that we're playing now, the way that we're hard to beat means the players are looking forward to the game and that's the most important thing."
Boro have made tentative improvements in recent games, losing just one of their last five matches in all competitions. However, Southgate is well aware that they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to overcome the men who beat Real Madrid in Spain this week.
"They've got some world-class players and they beat Real Madrid in the week so it will be a huge challenge for us, but one we go into in a good frame of mind," he added.
"They are an outstanding team and it is an outstanding football club and has been historically, but that brings pressure.
"Every club, every team in every division has pressure of one sort or another."
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