Rafa Benitez revealed the secret of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard which he believes makes the midfielder one of the best in the world. Benitez told that Gerrard always desperate to learn and take his game to the next level and analyses his performances after the game.

He said: “Gerrard is a player who is always asking how he can improve, and that is a fundamental part of him which is a huge benefit as a manager. Even at the level he has reached, he knows that it’s never over, he never stops wanting to learn. It is a part of his personality that he wants to work so hard.”

“Let me tell you something he left this week with the English national side, but before heading off he picked up a DVD, prepared by the person in charge of match analysis at the club,” Benitez explained.

“It’s a DVD of his strong points and his weaknesses, of his qualities and his faults, so he can make use of these few days on international duty and watch it before playing with the national side.

“When he left the team base in London, he went straight to the Liverpool training ground to get the DVD before leaving because he was very interested in the idea of analysing his match and trying to correct his mistakes.

“Then he wanted to go over it with me. We actually spoke on the phone on Wednesday, because he was in a hurry for us to talk about what he saw on the DVD and how he could benefit from it. That shows you how the desire is a fundamental part of him.”

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According to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez awesome performances by liverpool players in England win over Croatia could prove just as beneficial to Liverpool.

Two goals from Steven Gerrard and another dazzling display of attacking full-back play from Glen Johnson helped England book their place in next summer’s finals with a 5-1 win over Croatia.

Benitez said: “It means so much to Stevie to be winning things for his club and country and he came back from international duty on a real high. We need him to be at his best and it is going to be very positive for his confidence to score two goals and play so well.”

“We have had some difficulties so far this season, with the level of expectations and players reporting back at different times for the build-up to the campaign and Stevie has suffered from that, just like any other player. But England have qualified, so that is one less thing for him to worry about.”

“The pressure is off. I feel sure that is going to be a positive thing for him and us.”

Benitez praised England manager Fabio Capello and believes he (Fabio Capello) has an aura about him that can take England all the way next summer.

“I remember spending some time with him when he was manager of AC Milan. I watched his methods, and it struck me he had a presence.”

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A source close to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard suggest that Gerrard will be ready for the Premier League opener on sunday against Tottenham.

29-year-old Gerrard was ruled out of England’s friendly against Holland with a slight groin strain, but trained with the Three Lions earlier this week. However, Steven Gerrard is desperate not to miss out on the chance to get the club’s title charge off to a flying start.

It will be the sixth successive campaign Liverpool have started away from home.

“I don’t think Rafa’s ever had a home game to start the season in all his time at the club,” Gerrard said.

“But I think that if you take a step back and look at it in detail, there are benefits to beginning the season away from home. If you can achieve three points you’ve then got two games to come in front of your own supporters. The start to the season’s always crucial because you can build momentum quickly”.

“They’re all tough games, but if we could get three points from each of the first three games, then that would be us off to a flier and that will be our intention.”

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