Avram on Friday

Avram Grant was relishing a meeting with Kenny Dalglish when he faced the press on Friday afternoon before Sunday's showdown with Liverpool. The manager also spoke about Matthew Upson's return to training.

Avram on injury news...

"Robbie Keane is out for a few weeks more. We will see on Victor Obinna on Saturday. Jack Collison is out for a few weeks more but he has been out for a long time. We don't know on Matthew Upson. He trained today but it was not training with pressure so we will wait and see. Kieron Dyer is not fit. I think it will be two weeks more until he will be fit.

"It's important to get them back when you get to the last few games. It's important all the time but coming to the end of the season you want competition between the players.

"It's not a secret that part of our problem this season has been injuries at the wrong time. All the players you mentioned were good before they got injured so it hasn't been easy. It's not been easy but we decided to concentrate on what we have, not what we can change.

Avram on Thomas Hitzlsperger...

"He played very well [against Burnley] given it was his first match after eight months so for me he did well. He cannot be in his best after one game but it's good to see him back because he's an important player for us and he was part of our plan to be one of the leaders.

Avram on Liverpool...

"A lot of things have things changed since Anfield [in November]. When we played there we went with a lot of injuries but without speaking about this, we didn't do well in any aspect of the game and they played well.

"There are good things we learned from this. From this game on we have played different and better. Even in this game. It was good for us to learn from this game and not repeat it.

Avram on Kenny Dalglish...

"The results are better. I dont know what happened but the results are better. They are playing with more confidence. Of course with a team like Liverpool there is always inspiration to finish in the top four or top three or two.

"They are playing good football now and getting results. Liverpool is always Liverpool for me. It's a top team and top club.

"Kenny was a great player. I was the first time I came here the headlines were in 1977 that Liverpool bought Kenny Dalgish for £440k. It was 'Why do we spend this money? Now you cannot buy the kitman with this money so he was great. He came to Liverpool and made them better. He was great player.

"I wish we could have a few of him here today in English football and he was also a great manager. He achieved a lot. It's good to see people like Kenny Dalglish back.
Avram on the importance of Sunday...

"Every game is important for us because we didn't start well this season so we need these points. To play Liverpool is not easy but our target is that we will not be hard to beat for the other teams. It's a big challenge and we need the points and will do everything to get them.

"We have improved a lot in the last few weeks. We have scored many goals and our game is better and more efficient and we hope to continue this."

Avram on the amount of points needed to stay up...

"In the last three years it was 35 and before it was 38. In 2002/03, it was more than 40 when unfortunately West Ham got relegated but it depends. The teams need to play each other and the top teams. I don't know but for sure it will not be 35. It will be more."

Avram on Winston Reid being affected by the New Zealand earthquake...

"I spoke with him. His family is not from that area but of course when something like this happens in your country, you can't be relaxed. In the training he was OK. He was in contact with New Zealand all the time. Everybody is sad to see what has happened."