Gerrard: Reds in safe hands with John Henry

Steven Gerrard has said that the American John W Henry's takeover of Liverpool has been a factor in the team's improved form.

Henry's New England Sports Ventures completed a buyout of the Anfield club last month, after a turbulent period under the previous owners, Henry's compatriots George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League last season and, under a new manager, Roy Hodgson, fell into the bottom three this autumn. Henry's first match as the club's owner was a defeat in the Merseyside derby against Everton but since then Gerrard's team have put together a five-match unbeaten run.

The England midfielder said: "Everyone wants to go on to the football pitch with everything right off the pitch and Liverpool had a hard 12 months with what's been going on off the pitch. We certainly wouldn't use it as an excuse for results on the pitch but it is nice and refreshing to know that we're in safe hands now. Everyone wants to move the club forward and everyone can concentrate on the football and on making headlines on the back pages rather than the front."

Gerrard will lead Liverpool at Stoke tomorrow. He said: "At the beginning of the season our target was top four and that hasn't changed, but at the moment I don't want to get carried away. We are still in a position in the league we are not totally happy with so we need to keep this run going and see where it takes us."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.