Riera eager for City return

Last updated : 04 October 2008 By Al Campbell
Riera had a short loan spell at Manchester City in 2006 and played 15 games for the Sky Blues. However, City didn't see the winger at his best and so on Sunday he wants to show the City fans how much he's improved as a player.

"That was a very different moment for me as a player. I was only 22 when I went to Manchester City and so I was still learning the game and I had never played English football before," he said.

"But since then I have picked up a lot more experience and I have played in a UEFA Cup final with Espanyol and for the Spanish national team so I am now much better prepared to play in the Premier League.

"It is probably for other people to say if I am a better player but in my own mind I think that I am and hopefully I can prove this to the Liverpool fans.

"Once I joined City I learned very quickly that they are a very important club in the Premier League and I enjoyed my time with them.

"It was good to play for them and I liked everything about the club - especially the way they played football and the passion of the fans. But I am a Liverpool player now and that means I will be doing my very best for this club.

"We have started the season well and now we are looking to build on that.

"Everyone seems really confident right now and we are playing well and getting some good results.

"But we must continue to work hard in every single game and look to keep on winning because the season is still very young and there is a long, long way to go.

"We are progressing well though and hopefully this will continue."