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Aldridge familiar with pressure on Liverpool

Aldridge familiar with pressure on Liverpool
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The former Reds striker says his side faced expectations to win silverware "every single season".

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes the pressure on the current side is nothing compared to that faced by teams of his generation.

Aldridge won the league and FA Cup in two-and-a-half seasons with the Reds, missing out on being involved in the club's last title win in 1990 when he joined Real Sociedad after two appearances early in that campaign.

The striker moved to Anfield towards the end of their domination of English football and so was immediately aware of the huge expectations at the club.

"There is ridiculous hype because it is Liverpool and it's all these years we haven't won the first division/Premier League," Aldridge, who next month will play for the LFC Legends team against AC Milan Glorie in an Anfield charity match in aid of the LFC Foundation, told Press Association Sport.

"There is a lot of interest worldwide, with the fanbase Liverpool have, but I can't believe there is so much talk with January only just finished – it's crazy to be quite honest.

"They are doing all right at the moment: they had a little bit of a blip and have a few injuries to contend with.

"You talk about pressure now, we had pressure every season – 60s, 70s, 80s, – every season to win it.

"The pressure was on the team to do the business and we did an awful lot. Season-in, season-out. Retaining it. That was a different type of pressure.

"We have always had expectations, we expected it every single season: silverware, silverware, silverware.

"For us not to win a cup in a season was ridiculous because the standards were raised.

"You have to keep on winning, although it's virtually impossible to win your last 12 games or so but it's not improbable where City are and where Liverpool have been this season.

"City raised the bar massively last season, Liverpool have raised their bar and are keeping up with them at the moment."

Aldridge had a message for the current squad, who have escaped the title-race bubble with a training camp in Marbella this week, heading into the final months of the season.

"Just enjoy it and see it through," he said.

"Enjoy getting top and staying top of the league. The manager is saying all the right things so go out and have the will to win every game.

"Keep on believing in yourselves. Togetherness will keep them there."

:: Liverpool Legends v AC Milan Glorie will be held at Anfield on March 23, with proceeds going to the Liverpool FC Foundation. For details and to purchase tickets visit: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/tickets/328746-tickets-liverpool-legends-ac-milan

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John Aldridge during the Liverpool FC Legends and Kaizer Chiefs Legends autograph session at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World on November 15, 2013
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