Lee: Our fans have been phenomenal

SAMMY LEE has heaped praise on Liverpool's fans for their 'phenomenal' support through another turbulent week at Anfield.

The club emerged from a difficult spell to beat Tottenham on Wednesday night and move to within a point of the Londoners who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League place.

However, rumours regarding dressing room and training ground bust-ups between players and coaching staff had threatened to interfere with Liverpool's preparations for the game.

Among others, Steven Gerrard was the subject of speculation concerning an alleged disagreement during half-time of last week's FA Cup exit to Reading.

The club captain laughed off suggestions of dissent in the ranks and was backed by manager Rafael Benitez, who called for a show of unity from the pitch to the stands ahead of Tottenham's midweek visit.

And assistant manager, Lee, was delighted when the team bus was welcomed at Anfield by hundreds of fans, keen to demonstrate their backing for the club with an overwhelming show of support.

"Every three points is crucial but considering what has been happening this week in the build up to the game this was massive," he said of the 2-0 win over Spurs.

"Everyone realised that, the staff, the players and all the supporters and everyone involved in the football club.

"There is not enough praise for our supporters. To see them showing their support when we arrived was massive. We try to integrate our supporters into everything we do because they are part of what we are doing.

"It was really emotional for us to see them singing and supporting us as always.

"The players certainly appreciated it. Pepe Reina came up to me in the dressing room and he was very emotional. He said this wouldn't happen at any other football club and it meant a lot to everybody.

"We had a difficult game away to Stoke last weekend and the support for us was phenomenal. They saw the effort the lads put in and it was the same against Tottenham.

"Everybody played their part in this victory."

Prior to the win over Tottenham, Benitez admitted the outcome of the game could have a huge bearing on both club's Champions League qualification hopes.

Had Spurs won, they would have opened up a seven point gap on Liverpool.

Instead, the Anfield outfit have now won three of their last four league games to put pressure on Spurs as well as Aston Villa and Manchester City, who are all vying for a Champions League place this year.

Liverpool will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run against Wolves at Molineux next Tuesday in an attempt to break back into the top four.

And Lee believes the Spurs result can be the catalyst for the side to begin to show the kind of form that saw them finish second to eventual champions Manchester United last season.

"Hopefully we can take a lot of confidence from this victory," says Lee.

"It has given us a great boost because we are supposedly in crisis. With that win we have put ourselves in fighting distance of the top-four.

"We have another difficult game at Wolves next Tuesday. We need to keep this momentum going.

"Winning breeds confidence and if we can keep doing that then who knows? We are not making any false promises apart from the fact that we will make sure everyone goes out onto the pitch with the determination to win every game.

"We like to think we are heading in the right direction now. Nothing is won or lost at this point of the season and we know what we need to do."

Meanwhile, Ryan Babel is still on Birmingham's radar.

According to the player's agent, Winnie Haatrecht, Alex McLeish has not been put off by having a £9million bid for Babel rejected by Liverpool earlier this month and could be set to make a fresh offer for the Dutchman.

A host of clubs including Galatasaray and Juventus are said to be monitoring Babel's situation but Haatrecht says Babel would prefer to remain in England.

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