Dirk Kuyt: Manchester City should forget trying to sign Liverpool FC players

With Robinho's £32.5m signing from Real Madrid the only move coming to fruition, Hughes's new employers are primed to bankroll significant further arrivals when the window reopens in January.

Steven Gerrard is one of several players to have already come under City's radar, with one report going as far as to state the club are "confident" of snaffling the England international in the New Year.

That, though, is news to Kuyt who, having seen the Anfield skipper thrash home his 100th goal for Liverpool in the Champions League stroll against PSV Eindhoven, reckons none of Rafael Benitez's players would be willing to make the move down the East Lancs Road.

"We don't talk about City much as players, but we know they have a new owner and we know he's got a lot of money," says Kuyt.

"But I don't think any player from Liverpool would go to Manchester City because Liverpool is a much bigger club.

"Stevie is a great player. It's a great achievement for a midfielder to get 100 goals, and a lot of great ones in there too.

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"Liverpool IS Stevie so of course it would be very difficult to buy him. I don't think he would ever leave here for City. I don't know what value you would put on him, but it would be a lot of money.

So it won't be easy for City, especially if they want to sign the really big players. Of course it's possible, but if you want ones who are already playing for big clubs, that's the difficult thing.

"Liverpool is a great club.

"I'm in my third season here now and I enjoy it every day. I know how big this club is, not only in England but all over the world, and that's really important for all the players here."

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Liverpool visit Eastlands on Sunday when their unbeaten start to the season is certain to be put to a stern test, despite City's characteristically inconsistent form.

City's new owners expect their riches to at least break the team into the top four, but Kuyt has warned such an achievement will not be straightforward.

"I think the gap (to the top four clubs) is getting closer and closer because there are teams with more money in the Premier League, like City and Aston Villa," he says.

"But it's one of the toughest leagues in the world and although teams like them want to get into the top four, the ones already there want to stay there every year so it will be difficult."

Kuyt set Liverpool on their way against PSV with his 10th strike in his last 17 Champions League games.

The Dutchman has found goals harder to come by in the Premier League, having last netted in the top flight way back in November 2007 against Newcastle United. And he says: "It's strange that I score that many in Europe but not in the Premier League, so hopefully that will change. But the main thing is the manager's shown a lot of confidence in me by giving me a lot of games."

While Kuyt and Gerrard were extending their own goal trails for Liverpool, Robbie Keane finally began setting out on his on Wednesday with his first strike since his near £20million move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

"That will mean a lot to Robbie, and he deserves it too because he has been playing well in the last couple of games," says Kuyt.

"Everyone could see how happy he was with his first goal, and usually when you get the first one the rest follow. Hopefully it will be the same for him.

"I think the main thing is we have a lot of players who can score goals. Robbie's got his first and we know the rest will follow."

Kuyt adds: "We just have to keep going as a team. Next up it's Manchester City and we want to beat them and get another three points.

"It's important to beat teams like Manchester United, but the main thing is to win every one. We showed we could beat United so it was disappointing to draw with Stoke.

"We want to win every game, whether it's United, Stoke or City."

Gerrard's century strike came in perhaps the ideal fashion, the skipper rifling a trademark 25-yard shot into the Kop net.

And he says: "I'm absolutely delighted and the fact that it came in front of the Kop makes it even better for me because it was my way of thanking the fans for all the support they have given me and the team down the years.

"I knew it was going in quite early because I struck it quite well and I was right behind it but it was still great to see the ball hit the back of the net."

Gerrard adds: "Just to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Dalglish, Rush and Fowler makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck because everyone knows what they mean to this football club.

"I don't think I will be challenging any of their scoring records though so I don't think they've got anything to worry about on that front.

"For me now the important thing is to challenge for trophies and medals because personal achievements are always nice but it's the team that counts."

Who Steven Gerrard joins in Liverpool's 100 Club

1 Ian Rush 346 (in 660 appearances),

2 Roger Hunt 286 (in 492 apps),

3 Gordon Hodgson 241 (in 377 apps),

4 Billy Liddell 228 (in 534 apps),

5 Robbie Fowler 183 (in 369 apps),

6 Kenny Dalglish 172 (in 515 apps),

7 Michael Owen 158 (in 297 apps),

8 Harry Chambers 151 (in 339 apps),

9 Sam Raybould 130 (in 226 apps),

10 Jack Parkinson 129 (in 220 apps),

11 Dick Forshaw 124 (in 288 apps),

12 Ian St John 118 (in 425 apps),

13 Jack Balmer 111 (in 312 apps),

14 John Barnes 108 (in 407 apps),

15 Kevin Keegan 100 (in 323 apps),

Steven Gerrard 100 (in 448 apps).