Barrera aiming high at Anfield

Pablo Barrera is more than optimistic about this Saturday's trip to Liverpool and believes it is just a matter of time before good performances turn into victories for West Ham United.

The Mexican international is relishing the prospect of playing at Anfield for the first time but is more concerned with helping the Hammers to end a run of seven top-flight games without a win - even if they are also on a sequence of just two defeats in eleven matches in all competitions.

It is always a tough task at the Reds, not least with the club's last away win at Liverpool coming in September 1963.

"I am very excited about playing at Anfield," said Barrera. "It will be a very difficult match but we need to start winning. The team is playing well despite being frustrated by the results in the recent matches. We have a great chance to get something from Liverpool."

Looking to Blackpool last Saturday, the 23-year-old who represented Mexico in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, remained frustrated about the draw. It could have all been different had the Hammers taken one of the many opportunities that fell Barrera and his team-mates' way.

"Against Blackpool we should have won the match. In general the team played very well. We created a lot of chances, but we didn't score.

"We just need to keep working to come out from this period, because I believe that we've got quality in the squad to do it. Of course mentally we are not in our best moment because we have not been winning. However, the team is playing well, so we just need a little bit extra to turn draws into wins."

Barrera signed a four-year contract with the Hammers back in July. The skilful winger then made his Barclays Premier League debut away to Aston Villa on the first day of the season and is improving with every top-flight appearance, having made three starts and six substitute appearances.

"Blackpool was definitely one of my better performances. Step by step I am getting used to English football. The Premier League requires players to have a very good physical condition but that's something that I will reach by working hard.

"But I am feeling better match after match. I came here to do things well and to help the team, so that's something I am really focused on."

Barrera is up for the challenge of playing in the Premier League and is delighted by this new stage of his career and life, after making his name for club and country back in his homeland.

"Some of the matches are more complicated for me because there is no space to play from the wings, so we have to play from the centre and try long passes. Each match is different but this experience has been great for me.

"It is beautiful to have a chance to play in the best league in the world and for a club like West Ham."