Kuyt: It has been hard carrying Reds

The Reds have been without Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson for several games, while captain Steven Gerrard has only recently returned from a latest fitness setback in a troubled campaign. However, Rafa Benitez's team are preparing for Saturday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield boasting a six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League that has kept their quest for the UEFA Champions League alive. Kuyt has had to fill in for star striker Torres and has scored three goals in as many games to leave him one away from his 50th for Liverpool - but the Dutchman has felt the pressure. "Of course you feel a responsibility. Everyone in the team feels a responsibility and it is very hard when you are missing your best players," he said. "We have missed Torres for a while, Stevie (Gerrard) couldn't play every game and Glen Johnson has a bad injury, it makes it very difficult. "Any other team, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, would struggle as well, but you can't think about this. "You have to try to do it with the players who are fit at the moment. "What we have done really well is keep working hard. We have been a bit unlucky with a couple of injuries, but the players are coming back and we are getting stronger and stronger. Once they are back we will all learn that it makes us stronger. "Things are definitely changing, but we can't relax. We have to look forward and get the goals in." Liverpool are unbeaten in their previous six league encounters against Everton and their last defeat at home against their nearest rivals came in 1999. Kuyt, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win at Goodison Park back in 2007, will be asked to try and supply the goals to secure another win over the Toffees this weekend and Reds assistant manager Sammy Lee hopes he reaches his half century. But Benitez's number two would welcome any strikes that secure three points, saying: "It would be nice for him to score in the derby and get his 50, but it would be nice for anyone to score. "It's good for us that we have got goals going in from different areas. We are without Fernando, which has been well documented, but the lads are working hard and we have got players like Dirk who can score."