Kuyt targets productive Christmas period

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Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is confident the Merseysiders can make a significant move towards the top four over the festive period.

The Reds' four matches in 11 days see them host Wolves and Bolton and travel to Blackpool and Blackburn.

And although they are currently nine points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea Kuyt believes a healthy return of points will close the gap.

"This period is one of the most important of the season," said the Holland international.

"If we can produce a good run I'm sure we will be up near the top four.

"I'm sure a lot of the top teams will drop some points this month. If we could get four good results in a row, then who knows? Certainly the gap will be closer."

The Dutchman is one of the squad's hardest-working players and so several matches in quick succession hold no problems for him.

"December is always a special month in the Premier League and one I always look forward to," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's hard work with four games in 10 days but that's what you want.

"I love to play games and always want to play as many as I can.

"Hopefully at the beginning of the new year we can look back and say it was a great time for us and we climbed the table."

Having had their home game against Fulham postponed on Saturday because of the heavy snow which fell in the north-west, there is a chance Boxing Day's match at Blackpool could also fall victim to the elements.

The Premier League newcomers do not have undersoil heating and have already had two matches postponed because of adverse weather - last Saturday's scheduled visit of Tottenham and the Manchester United game earlier this month.

Blackpool are currently in discussions with the Premier League about procedures ahead of Sunday's match.

"We can almost certainly guarantee the pitch will be playable but it is the prevailing conditions once the covers have been removed and whether the pitch will freeze before the end of the game taking place," chairman Karl Oyston told Sky Sports News.

"That is one we are talking to the Premier League about to see what their standpoint and inspection protocol will be."