Sampdoria vs Genoa preview - Liverani looking to bounce back

Posted Saturday, September 14, 2013 by PA

Genoa head coach Fabio Liverani expects his side to make amends for their poor start to the Serie A season with a win over city rivals Sampdoria on Sunday.

The Grifone slumped to their second straight defeat of the new campaign when losing 5-2 at home to Fiorentina last time out.

But Liverani knows there is no better game than the Derby della Lanterna to motivate his players.

"We want to bounce back immediately from our slow start to the season," he said. "The derby is not like any other game, we know how much this means for our fans and for the players.

"We will try to give our all to take home a win."

Liverani knows his team must show drastic improvement as Genoa have struggled in every department, giving away seven goals and scoring just two so far.

"We need to be more united as a team," he said. "We need to be more aggressive and determined."

Ricardo Centurion will partner Alberto Gilardino in Genoa's attack.

Samp, meanwhile, have warned Genoa to prepare for a battle.

The Blucerchiati beat Genoa 3-1 last season before holding the Grifone to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.

"We will give our all to win," said Samp defender Vasco Regini, who is looking forward to his first-ever derby.

"Sunday is going to be important for me, for the team and for the fans.

"The tension is normal. I see it as a positive for the game.

"Everyone who joins this club knows from day one what the derby means."

Delio Rossi's men head into the encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris looking for their first win of the season after suffering a narrow defeat to Juventus in their Serie A opener before drawing 2-2 at Bologna.