Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is convinced of an exciting 2013 for the club.

Gerrard's form and that of 16-goal Luis Suarez, the Reds sit in ninth position in the Barclays Premier League.

However, the skipper thinks the squad will enter 2013 with high hopes.

"Going into the New Year, there's plenty to be positive about," he wrote in his pre-Sunderland programme notes.

"I'm excited about this Liverpool team. I genuinely believe we are moving in the right direction.

"There will be a few blips along the way like the Villa defeat, because we are a very young squad.

"But clubs are defined by how they react to adversity and I know this group shares plenty of character and togetherness. As a collective, we will learn and we will get better.

"The league position needs to be improved and that needs to be our focus. But we've got games in two major cup competitions to look forward to in the second half of the season as well."